After reading what great reviews this film got, I watched it premiere on HBO. Having grown up in the 80's in Northern NJ, I thought I would recognize some familiar characters in this film. And I did.
The hairspray, the cars, the bars, the accents (although not too accurate) were all familiar. But the characters were caricatures - there wasn't much substance there. The film gets a little better towards the end but overall, there's nothing to sink your teeth into. I would recommend Salaam Bombay (a MUCH different film but a film much more representative of Nair's talent.)
The hairspray, the cars, the bars, the accents (although not too accurate) were all familiar. But the characters were caricatures - there wasn't much substance there. The film gets a little better towards the end but overall, there's nothing to sink your teeth into. I would recommend Salaam Bombay (a MUCH different film but a film much more representative of Nair's talent.)