Man Pushcart, Sherrybaby & Lage Raho Munna Bhai

Saw two very bleak movies, in the last week. The first was Man Pushcart and the other Sherry Baby. Here is a review from Cinematical.com of Man Pushcart.

Ramin Bahrani's film, is the life of push cart vendor in New York City. He wakes up before dawn, drags his cart through oncoming traffic to his corner, and then serves hot coffee, tea and bagels till noon. After which he tries to sell pirated dvd movies. He has a son, and his wife seems to have died in suspicious circumstances. He does not have many friends or much of a life, other than the push cart's daily rigmarole.

New York is beautifully filmed, with the most of the movie in black and white, and shades of grey. Ahmad, a former Pakistani pop star, now a push cart vendor’s life seems depressing and unending. The movie did not have much of a story, it was never clear, exactly how his wife died, or why he left Pakistan to come here. It was more a creative exploration of a push cart vendor's daily routine, without filling out more details of who he hung out with, which community he felt comfortable with. I would have liked to see more indepth descriptions of the Pakistani community that he belonged to, what happened after they could buy their own cart. The film maker was more interested in the idea of a push cart vendor in the darkness of Manhattan setting up his cart, turning on his stove, and getting a tea ready, rather than a human narrative of who he was, what his thoughts were. He was made to look heavy, beared, with dark circles and not much of a dialogue.

SherryBaby was about the life of a heroin addict, who comes out after serving a three year prison sentence. Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns home to New Jersey, eager to reestablish a relationship with her young daughter. Alexis has been cared for by her brother Bobby and his wife Lynn.

Sherry seems to think that she can get what she wants by having sex with men. But this pattern leads to her numerous relapses. The movie shows her father abusing her, which lead to her addiction to drugs and alcohol. She realizes that taking care of her daughter is not an easy task.

Maggie Gyllenhaal held the movie together, by creating a credible addict who kept repeating impulsive patterns that got her into trouble.

Saw one bright, cheerful movie, Lage Raho Munna Bhai , which was funny. Sanjay Dutt tried to impress a woman, by pretending to be a Gandhian Professor. While studying, Gandhi, he is visited by the ghost of Gandhi, who helps him follow the path of “Gandhigiri”. He and his girl friend, Vidya Balan, then go on radio to help people, solve issues through the Gandhian way.