I agree with Kermode. I thought it was one of the most unique, well directed, acted and edited films I've seen in a long time. The inequality in places like Delhi where it takes place, and the ingrained class and caste system, was hard to stomach but frankly all these awful unjust capitalistic elements and the unfair disparity between the super rich and poor, including the political corruption and money funnel, is a global problem. It is the reason we are in the mess we're in today.
Watched it yesterday. I knew nothing about it and ended up loving it. And that scene you mentioned with that smile on his face was a masterclass in acting.
"I'm just one who has woken up, while the rest of you are still sleeping." The movie is fantastic. Kinetic direction and terrific performance does justice to this story of a lower class, frustrated Indian. Great soundtrack too. 'From rags to riches, club packed with bitches Had to bag them digits, her head game was vicious And we can get it poppin' in the bathroom.' Good cinema.
@@blakekwamin7400 The fact that he was nice enraged the protagonist even more. He wasn't exactly nice. He thought he was supposed to be and tried to be 'nice'. Yes, the writing is very cynical. Welcome to the caste system of India.
@@amreshmohan3979 it was a fantastic movie. The cast system dynamic and the multiple layers was a huge eye opener. But the main character was certainly not a hero. Everyone was a product of their environment but, it felt like main character found success through betraying the people who deserved it least. That really made him worse than what he hated
Yeah but we are in a time when the ‘protagonist’ of the movie doesn’t have to be a ‘hero’ anymore. They can be flawed to max. This is just an opportunist’s story who climbs the social ladder. Also this movie is more about classism in India than the cast system.
Excelent description of an excelent movie!!! Thank you. You remarked several times the main character smile and it´s overhealming how he does it, brillant performance for the leading actor.
Saw it last night and was very impressed, a brilliant central performance, as you say, Mark. I also thought I saw some vague echos of Dirk Bogarde in "The Servant" as well, or was that just me? SPOILER - My only downer is that I did think it rushed over the consequences to his extended family, would have liked to have seen him deal with that in more detail.
The White Tiger is better than Parasite. On par with Taxi Driver (Me being an Indian, I really understood White Tiger. Maybe I'm biased). And I love Bong Joon-ho. I'd say Memories of Murder was better than Parasite. I enjoyed Parasite too.
@@amreshmohan3979 I doubt it's better than a film I regard as one of the best of all time! Taxi Driver isn't on the same level either it's very good but it's not one of the best films ever.
@@r4h4al Well, it boils down to personal preference. I prefer films with a central protagonist and I'm biased to first person voiceover narrations, especially with dark humor. I love Parasite, myself. I'm happy that all of us here appreciate good cinema.
Beat "them" at their own game ! That's what "underdogs' dream about and this film is about one "underdog" doing just that , albeit not without some personal cost ! And "White Tiger" depicts it, dazzlingly and marvelously !
THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE ME CRY AND THINK, WHY IN BIGGEST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, LOWER CASTES FACE DISCRIMINATION AFTER 74 YEARS OF ITS INDEPENDENCE THIS MOVIE'S STORY IS MASTERPIECE
@@SK-yn1fn Thanks, that's really helpful of you. I'll take another look at that one. It was clearly an interesting moment and hugely tense but I didn't see as much as MK did - but I'll defer to his general brilliance and have another look.
Come on, Mark. You have the money. Spend a couple bucks in producing these videos for christsakes. It's like a zoom call with my parents on a cellphone in a subway.
I love the description about withe man.. this is how the rest of the planet look at them.. homosexual late sleep lazy drugs consumers and video games life
@@hablemos-crypto Characterising a whole load of people solely based on their race as you did there is the definition of racism. It's what has kept non-white minorities oppressed for centuries and it's definitely not funny. So take a look at your flippant and offensive comments and think: "am I judging a group of people based on stereotypes?" and if the answer is yes (hint: it is yes) then consider yourself a racist. You have no right to protest racism by whites if you in turn express racist views towards whites. It's hypocritical and makes you look like a child. You are part of the problem. I hope you learn to improve yourself and develop a better understanding of humanity.
It struck me as a distinctly average film that I imagine a lot of people will really falling in love with... I thought it was a weak effort. I had a number of issues: - I don't think the narrative style allowed the film to be great in its own right. It constantly reminded that it is adapted from a book and this broke the fiction and cheapened the experience. - The camerawork, scenes and much of the dialogue was nothing to write home about. - It had some nice prose and morals, but they felt tacked on and not a part of the whole. - Inconsistent characters. I've not read the book, and I'm a little intrigued as to how it justifies some of the characters' motives. The protagonist acting corrupt to build his business at the end conflicts with his message, and the wealthy come across as irrational with nearly constant unexplained flip-flops. Overall, it seemed like an idea with potential that was rushed out - perhaps to ride the Parasite wave while it's hot. The acting was good.
I also have seen similarity with Parasite maybe because of the killing of the master and the absurdity of the story, who is the good and who is the bad.
I didn’t like the fact that he screwed over the only people who remotely cared for him in the movie. He murdered the only person who cared about him, then ran away for the rest of his family to die for his own success.
@@siate5671 it’s cowardly. He stole the money, killed the only master that was kind. While the master’s asshole family lived to then murder his entire village. The main character betrayed everyone close to him to get ahead in life. He became worse than the rich people he despised.
@@siate5671 But did he though? Because in the end he opened a what I would call fair business (at least relatively) and made for relatively fair working conditions. He in that way improved the live of those people and by extention their families even. He even proves that he has become better than his old masters, when he is put in the same situation like his former masters and he owns up to the mistake of his driver. I dont know whether you should consider the 40 000 rupees a bribe, but even he sais that he doesnt have to do it (give them any money) and gives a job security to the older brother.
That's part of the theme of the story. I'm paraphrasing but he said something in the lines of "people born in the light have the choice to be good but those born in the darkness do not." Essentially saying that people like him have to compromise and do ruthless deeds to better their situation. Deeds that he expressly regrets (getting the 1st driver fired, endangering and possibly causing the death of his family, etc.).
@@martina4226 The film is not about an ideal world (when gods existed on earth lol) where there has to be a message about triumph of good over evil or a world defined by black and white. It is the real world we are living in today which is grey and everyone has these grey shades in them and the film explores this grey zone of the central character and delves deeper towards the negative side as it explores the fragile moral compass which is endangered in trying circumstances arising out of extreme poverty and competition and those who try to overcome it
Not every movie needs to have a fairy tale ending. Sometimes these kind of endings are needed just to remind everyone what's really going on in the World.
@@martina4226 yes you are! This movie is like how so many people worship god's in such a place where God doesn't give justice often. If at all any such thing exists! There's only 2 ways to survive for the main protagonist, in his own words and world view. He even sings a song "oh lord, I don't want to live in your place...", right in the beginning he says there's no God I worship, nor am I am atheist.... It's just opportunity.
@@Prabzs123 more ppl watched parasite which had English subtitles....the fact that it was a Netflix release they could easily have made it in a language which suited the characters rather than pander to a western audience..a missed opportunity in my opinion
@@pheonixd2 Your opinion and stated facts are both wrong. Firstly, it was made for a theatrical release, not for a streaming release. It got a streaming release by Netflix due to the health crisis. Secondly, regarding your bizarre position on the characters speaking English; so much of that was the actual point of the film. The use of the English language is commonly used as a form of status to indicate both hierarchy and education, which the film discussed at length from the beginning all the way to the end of the film. Not to mention that large chunks of the film was spoken in Hindi anyway.
@@TrueDirection if you ever lived in India which I do you would know that a man named Balram Halwai would never converse in English and even of he learnt to speak so with his employers he would never speak it with the other help or the drivers...this is classic pandering of western filmmakers to a western audience...the language they speak with each other just doesn't ring true..not just of the driver but also Rajkumar's horrible American accent and if you count the majority of the film is in English and not in Hindi
I agree with Kermode. I thought it was one of the most unique, well directed, acted and edited films I've seen in a long time. The inequality in places like Delhi where it takes place, and the ingrained class and caste system, was hard to stomach but frankly all these awful unjust capitalistic elements and the unfair disparity between the super rich and poor, including the political corruption and money funnel, is a global problem. It is the reason we are in the mess we're in today.
Watched it yesterday. I knew nothing about it and ended up loving it. And that scene you mentioned with that smile on his face was a masterclass in acting.
One of the rare occasions when the film lives up to the book - brilliant
I watched it last night I thought it was brilliant, better than the book 📚 he translated it from the book really well
He captured the essence of the book really well- got to reread the book!! The lead actor was QUALITY!!!!
"I'm just one who has woken up, while the rest of you are still sleeping."
The movie is fantastic. Kinetic direction and terrific performance does justice to this story of a lower class, frustrated Indian. Great soundtrack too.
'From rags to riches, club packed with bitches
Had to bag them digits, her head game was vicious
And we can get it poppin' in the bathroom.'
Good cinema.
He murdered the only person in the movie nice to him. Then ran away with the movie, leaving his village behind to die for his crimes.
@@blakekwamin7400 The fact that he was nice enraged the protagonist even more. He wasn't exactly nice. He thought he was supposed to be and tried to be 'nice'. Yes, the writing is very cynical. Welcome to the caste system of India.
@@amreshmohan3979 it was a fantastic movie. The cast system dynamic and the multiple layers was a huge eye opener. But the main character was certainly not a hero. Everyone was a product of their environment but, it felt like main character found success through betraying the people who deserved it least. That really made him worse than what he hated
Yeah but we are in a time when the ‘protagonist’ of the movie doesn’t have to be a ‘hero’ anymore. They can be flawed to max. This is just an opportunist’s story who climbs the social ladder. Also this movie is more about classism in India than the cast system.
A rare good book-to-film adaptation. Wish it was longer though. But still a masterpiece.
It's 2 hours lol long enough for a movie
@@SK-yn1fn There've been longer movies.
Excelent description of an excelent movie!!! Thank you.
You remarked several times the main character smile and it´s overhealming how he does it, brillant performance for the leading actor.
Saw it last night and was very impressed, a brilliant central performance, as you say, Mark. I also thought I saw some vague echos of Dirk Bogarde in "The Servant" as well, or was that just me?
SPOILER - My only downer is that I did think it rushed over the consequences to his extended family, would have liked to have seen him deal with that in more detail.
Yeah I had an issue with rushed ending too... but the issue there was the book that this is based on, the books leaves it like this
High praise to compare with Parasite will check it out. :D
STORY OF THE WHITE TIGER IS HARSH REALITY OF TODAY'S INDIA
WHILE......
PARASITE IS JUST A WORK OF FICTION
The White Tiger is better than Parasite. On par with Taxi Driver (Me being an Indian, I really understood White Tiger. Maybe I'm biased). And I love Bong Joon-ho. I'd say Memories of Murder was better than Parasite. I enjoyed Parasite too.
@@amreshmohan3979 I doubt it's better than a film I regard as one of the best of all time!
Taxi Driver isn't on the same level either it's very good but it's not one of the best films ever.
@@r4h4al Well, it boils down to personal preference. I prefer films with a central protagonist and I'm biased to first person voiceover narrations, especially with dark humor. I love Parasite, myself. I'm happy that all of us here appreciate good cinema.
Great book! Look forward to seeing it. Took me while to work out what ‘dipping his beak’ meant.
what did it mean?
Beat "them" at their own game ! That's what "underdogs' dream about and this film is about one "underdog" doing just that , albeit not without some personal cost ! And "White Tiger" depicts it, dazzlingly and marvelously !
Adarsh Gourav was snubbed at the Golden Globes for lead actor
You are such a good critic ...
Have been to India many times and the style didn't grip me at all. 1950's Bengali cinema was of the highest quality
THE BEST MOVIE EVER
MADE ME CRY
AND
THINK, WHY IN BIGGEST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, LOWER CASTES FACE DISCRIMINATION AFTER 74 YEARS OF ITS INDEPENDENCE
THIS MOVIE'S STORY IS MASTERPIECE
Is your caps lock broken?
@@Prabzs123 does it hurt your caps lock?
Perfect Videography,I greatly appreciate this Mr.Kermode
Loved the film, however which "did so little said so much" scene were you referring to?
I thought this was a reference to the "signature" scene
@@SK-yn1fn Thanks, that's really helpful of you. I'll take another look at that one. It was clearly an interesting moment and hugely tense but I didn't see as much as MK did - but I'll defer to his general brilliance and have another look.
@@pb9874 I'm not sure but think he meant this scene. Balram was smiling throughout but you could tell the change of feeling. Great acting.
I loved it. Curious how anyone trying the same thing in the West is accused of writing agitprop, ‘muckraking’, blah blah blah.
Awesome movie
ʕ º ᴥ ºʔ White Indian Tiger 🐯🐅
Come on, Mark. You have the money. Spend a couple bucks in producing these videos for christsakes. It's like a zoom call with my parents on a cellphone in a subway.
I think he's using his laptop cam ffs! 🙄
I love the description about withe man.. this is how the rest of the planet look at them.. homosexual late sleep lazy drugs consumers and video games life
Oh good a racist in the RUclips comments section. What a surprise.
@@lafynk6734 the true is racism now? So much drama!!
@@hablemos-crypto Characterising a whole load of people solely based on their race as you did there is the definition of racism. It's what has kept non-white minorities oppressed for centuries and it's definitely not funny. So take a look at your flippant and offensive comments and think: "am I judging a group of people based on stereotypes?" and if the answer is yes (hint: it is yes) then consider yourself a racist. You have no right to protest racism by whites if you in turn express racist views towards whites. It's hypocritical and makes you look like a child. You are part of the problem. I hope you learn to improve yourself and develop a better understanding of humanity.
It struck me as a distinctly average film that I imagine a lot of people will really falling in love with... I thought it was a weak effort.
I had a number of issues:
- I don't think the narrative style allowed the film to be great in its own right. It constantly reminded that it is adapted from a book and this broke the fiction and cheapened the experience.
- The camerawork, scenes and much of the dialogue was nothing to write home about.
- It had some nice prose and morals, but they felt tacked on and not a part of the whole.
- Inconsistent characters. I've not read the book, and I'm a little intrigued as to how it justifies some of the characters' motives. The protagonist acting corrupt to build his business at the end conflicts with his message, and the wealthy come across as irrational with nearly constant unexplained flip-flops.
Overall, it seemed like an idea with potential that was rushed out - perhaps to ride the Parasite wave while it's hot.
The acting was good.
I also have seen similarity with Parasite maybe because of the killing of the master and the absurdity of the story, who is the good and who is the bad.
thanks for the spoiler
Pretty stupid to just spoil the movie right away
Fantastic movie
I didn’t like the fact that he screwed over the only people who remotely cared for him in the movie. He murdered the only person who cared about him, then ran away for the rest of his family to die for his own success.
Its all about that Rooster Coop allegory.
He broke the cage and didnt care about other rooster's
@@siate5671 it’s cowardly. He stole the money, killed the only master that was kind. While the master’s asshole family lived to then murder his entire village.
The main character betrayed everyone close to him to get ahead in life. He became worse than the rich people he despised.
@@blakekwamin7400 well that was the whole point of the story.
@@siate5671 But did he though?
Because in the end he opened a what I would call fair business (at least relatively) and made for relatively fair working conditions. He in that way improved the live of those people and by extention their families even. He even proves that he has become better than his old masters, when he is put in the same situation like his former masters and he owns up to the mistake of his driver. I dont know whether you should consider the 40 000 rupees a bribe, but even he sais that he doesnt have to do it (give them any money) and gives a job security to the older brother.
That's part of the theme of the story. I'm paraphrasing but he said something in the lines of "people born in the light have the choice to be good but those born in the darkness do not." Essentially saying that people like him have to compromise and do ruthless deeds to better their situation. Deeds that he expressly regrets (getting the 1st driver fired, endangering and possibly causing the death of his family, etc.).
'stylistically stylish'- you're losing it kermode!
#oscars winning performance for all.... #TheWhiteTiger 🐯 movie
This joker is way past his shelf life and knows nothing anymore except his own need for self glorification.
As long as it doesn't have any of that bollywood dancing cringe!
Watch it please.
"if you can''t beat them join them" seems to be the pathetic message of this unrewarding film
I guess I was the fool for looking for meaning in the wrong place
@@martina4226 The film is not about an ideal world (when gods existed on earth lol) where there has to be a message about triumph of good over evil or a world defined by black and white.
It is the real world we are living in today which is grey and everyone has these grey shades in them and the film explores this grey zone of the central character and delves deeper towards the negative side as it explores the fragile moral compass which is endangered in trying circumstances arising out of extreme poverty and competition and those who try to overcome it
Not every movie needs to have a fairy tale ending. Sometimes these kind of endings are needed just to remind everyone what's really going on in the World.
@@martina4226 yes you are! This movie is like how so many people worship god's in such a place where God doesn't give justice often. If at all any such thing exists! There's only 2 ways to survive for the main protagonist, in his own words and world view. He even sings a song "oh lord, I don't want to live in your place...", right in the beginning he says there's no God I worship, nor am I am atheist.... It's just opportunity.
Was it?
Did you agree with his moral choices?
Did it make you wonder how things could - or should - have been differently?
Then the film did its job.
Terrible choice by the director for the characters to speak English....doesn't ring true at all...a lost opportunity
Actually a great choice. More people will see this film and not all of them speak English, i thought it was well balanced.
@@Prabzs123 more ppl watched parasite which had English subtitles....the fact that it was a Netflix release they could easily have made it in a language which suited the characters rather than pander to a western audience..a missed opportunity in my opinion
Agreed
@@pheonixd2 Your opinion and stated facts are both wrong. Firstly, it was made for a theatrical release, not for a streaming release. It got a streaming release by Netflix due to the health crisis. Secondly, regarding your bizarre position on the characters speaking English; so much of that was the actual point of the film. The use of the English language is commonly used as a form of status to indicate both hierarchy and education, which the film discussed at length from the beginning all the way to the end of the film. Not to mention that large chunks of the film was spoken in Hindi anyway.
@@TrueDirection if you ever lived in India which I do you would know that a man named Balram Halwai would never converse in English and even of he learnt to speak so with his employers he would never speak it with the other help or the drivers...this is classic pandering of western filmmakers to a western audience...the language they speak with each other just doesn't ring true..not just of the driver but also Rajkumar's horrible American accent and if you count the majority of the film is in English and not in Hindi