Black (2005) DVD Reviews

Starring	Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Ayesha Kapur, Shernaz Patel
Director	Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Genres	Drama, Indian Cinema

Critics' reviews of Black
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In director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's thought-provoking family drama, Amitabh Bachchan plays Debraj Sahai, the dedicated, no-nonsense mentor who attempts to teach the blind and deaf Michelle McNally (the irrepressible Rani Mukherji). By encouraging, coaxing and even bullying the intelligent, determined girl, he succeeds, but Debraj's own life begins to change when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. As he comes to rely on his former student, the pair form a deep and lasting bond. The camaraderie between the two central characters is utterly convincing, thanks to fine performances from Bachchan and Mukherji, and Bhansali's meticulously crafted film captures the determination of the human spirit with understated elegance.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Black
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12 out of 16 people found this review helpful

The Best of Amitabh

This is undoubtedly the best Amitabh movie. He has given stunning performance. Equally praisworthy is the performance of Rani Mukherjee and the girl who acted her childhood. It's a true dedication to Hellen Keller. Kudos to Sanjay Leela Bhansali
- - Vinod Warrier from England
  - Posted 16 May 2005 23:56
11 out of 17 people found this review helpful

Black list

dark. comic. Terrible. funny.
- - A customer from Brighton, england
  - Posted 17 Jan 2006 22:50
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Superb

For anyone who appreciates the fine art of cinematography, this film is visually stunning. The acting and story are out of this world.. definately a must-see movie. Not for those who prefer films that offer escapism, sadly you will find it uninteresting and depressing.
- - A.Q from London, UK
  - Posted 04 Mar 2006 15:50
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Black
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

not pal

this is not pal and cannot be played
- - A customer from staffordshire
  - Posted 30 Jul 2006 22:36
11 out of 17 people found this review helpful

Black list

dark. comic. Terrible. funny.
- - A customer from Brighton, england
  - Posted 17 Jan 2006 22:50

12 out of 16 people found this review helpful

The Best of Amitabh

This is undoubtedly the best Amitabh movie. He has given stunning performance. Equally praisworthy is the performance of Rani Mukherjee and the girl who acted her childhood. It's a true dedication to Hellen Keller. Kudos to Sanjay Leela Bhansali
- - Vinod Warrier from England
  - Posted 16 May 2005 23:56
11 out of 17 people found this review helpful

Black list

dark. comic. Terrible. funny.
- - A customer from Brighton, england
  - Posted 17 Jan 2006 22:50
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful

Superb

For anyone who appreciates the fine art of cinematography, this film is visually stunning. The acting and story are out of this world.. definately a must-see movie. Not for those who prefer films that offer escapism, sadly you will find it uninteresting and depressing.
- - A.Q from London, UK
  - Posted 04 Mar 2006 15:50
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful

Stunning Theatrical Film - from India !

Superb film. Very moving. Theatrical. You feel you are sitting in the front row of a small theatre because the acting is theatrical rather than completely natural. The music and the cinematography (in superb black and white throughout)is of exceptional quality. Subtitles are easy to read. This is surely the finest film to have emerged from India?
- - A classical actor from from deep in the luscious green hills of stunning Mid Wales.
  - Posted 15 Sep 2006 17:46
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful

SLB is the Indian James Cameron/Ridley Scott!

This film is great cinema pure and simple!

The acting, some say, is over-the-top ham (in the case of AB). The point which all the detractors miss is that this film is about entertaining the audience - does it achieve its purpose...? A whole-hearted yes!!!

The performances elicited by SLB from the likes of mainstream Mukerjee and Bachan are truly worth watching, and he uses their natural strengths, and more, to maximum effect... but truly mesmerising is the debutante Kapur as young Michelle!

SLB and his crew should be commended for delivering a quality film (especially editor Bela's smooth, compact and lucid narrative construct).

Great story, great production, great acting... a great film like this shouldn't be judged by regular 'Bollywood' standards... it doesn't need to as it has enough relevance, resonance and quality to stand on its own against the best movies worldwide.
- - Kamski from Bristol, England
  - Posted 02 Jun 2005 16:02
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful

Black has so much colour

Black is a labour of love, and this is evident in every frame, that has been immaculately crafted like a painting, except not just with visuals, but coloured in with great scores, deep characters and heart-felt emotions.

However, not everyone will appreciate Black. This is really a directors movie and a film students case study. However, anyone who has an eye for art, will appreciate Black for it's colours.
- - Raj from England
  - Posted 14 May 2005 02:44
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

black

This movie was fantastic. the story is realistic. the director has payed attention to the smallest detail, he's done a fab job. The actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rani are brilliant, and all the other actors are great as well, especially the little girl who plays the young Rani, she is brilliant. Everyone suits the characters they are played
- - A customer from scotland
  - Posted 19 Apr 2005 16:52
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Over-emphasized yet uplifting!

The trouble with 'Black' is that Bhansali tries to make it so strikingly different from the usual run-of-the-mill fare that he ends up trying too hard. His fascination with every frame in the movie borders almost on the obsessive which is quite distressing for the viewer. Ofcourse, subtlety has been rarely a forte for Bhansali (you only have to see 'Devdas' once!) but a subject like 'Black' deserved a modicum of restraint. Here's a small suggestion - next time you see the movie, try watching the dramatic scenes in the movie after you've muted the sound and see the difference.

In the end, however, what substantially raises the bar for this film are superlative performances!

This may be 11 year old Ayesha Kapur's debut movie but it seems even seasoned performers would be dwarfed by her dazzling portrayal of little Michelle Mcnally who is born deaf, mute and blind. She's simply stunning!

Rani Mukherjee uses her lovely eyes to great effect. Her movements and dance steps are a homage to the great Chaplin and she's absolutely adorable in those scenes.

Dhritiman Chatterjee and Shernaz Patel may have less than substantial roles but they put in so much honesty that it more than makes up for it.

Finally, Amitabh Bachchan! Frankly, I don't think this is his best performance to date (he was fantastic in 'Khakee') but you cannot imagine anybody else portraying the mercurial Debraj Sahai. Bachchan hams excruciatingly in his early scenes as well as the last ones, but inbetween those two aberrations he gives a compulsive and phenomenal performance. He simply leaves you speechless in the scenes where he painfully confronts Michelle's unfulfilled desires or those where he slowly succumbs to Alzheimer's. This may not be Amitabh's finest moment, but he comes close, very close.

'Black' is over-emphasized and holds us almost at gunpoint to elicit an emotional response, but it is well-intentioned, supremely uplifting and fully deserves a wider and discerning audience.
- - Saikat Biswas from St.Andrews, Scotland
  - Posted 21 Apr 2005 02:49
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Deserves an Oscar

Amitabh reportedly recently commented 'Where do I go after BLACK ?'Where indeed? This film breaks new ground in Indian cinema, not only for its brave storyline, but also for its commendable eschewal of melodrama & song/dance sequences.Its cinematography is breathtaking, with beautiful lighting and camerawork.Sanjay Leela Bansali has scaled new hights.This film ought to be Bollywood's entry for the best foreign film Oscar.
- - sandeep from Birmingham
  - Posted 19 May 2005 19:09
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Not your average bollywood film

A 'Bollywood' film with no musical numbers!

Great acting from Amitabh and an original story for once, not the usual '20 years ago I lost my family then found them' lark that seem to get churned out from Indian film studios.

I found this film very entertaining and well worth renting.
- - Michael Sidhu from London, England
  - Posted 07 Dec 2005 14:11

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Critics' reviews
In director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's thought-provoking family drama, Amitabh Bachchan plays Debraj Sahai, the dedicated, no-nonsense mentor who attempts to teach the blind and deaf Michelle McNally (the irrepressible Rani Mukherji). By encouraging, coaxing and even bullying the intelligent, determined girl, he succeeds, but Debraj's own life begins to change when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. As he comes to rely on his former student, the pair form a deep and lasting bond. The camaraderie between the two central characters is utterly convincing, thanks to fine performances from Bachchan and Mukherji, and Bhansali's meticulously crafted film captures the determination of the human spirit with understated elegance.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

- - Buy
- Black
  
  Michelle McNally lives within an isolated world of darkness; she can not see, hear or speak. When Debraj Sahai enters her life determined to impart knowledge onto her, however, it seems that the void which characterises her life may be broken......