The Long Take

Does Ramin Bahrani’s The White Tiger —led by Adarsh Gourav, with Rajkummar Rao and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in supporting roles—live up to the award-winning book it’s based on? We discuss the film’s exploration of caste and class in India, Rao’s terrible American accent, and how it fits into Bahrani’s filmography. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please...

Is it a loving homage to classic sitcoms or an unabashed Marvel spectacle? We attempt to unpack the first three episodes of WandaVision , the first MCU series on Disney+. In between, we also speculate about future chapters, discuss Easter eggs, and wonder if it is all an introduction to the multiverse—one that seems to be more committee-driven every day. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar ,...

With The Mandalorian season 2, a lifelong film franchise now shows more promise on television. How did this happen? We discuss Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s instrumental place in spawning the Star Wars cinematic universe, and compare it favourably to two of the best shows in recent memory: Game of Thrones , and Breaking Bad . We also talk about our expectations from the other Star Wars series in t...

How does Wonder Woman 1984 —the sequel led by Gal Gadot—waste the goodwill established by the first movie? We discuss the DC film’s bloated runtime, lacklustre villains—played by Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal—its unwillingness to justify its ‘80s setting and the return of Chris Pine, and complete absence of thematic depth. Later, we wonder how director Patty Jenkins plans to deliver all of Wonder...

In an end-of-the-year special, co-hosts Rohan Naahar and Akhil Arora talk about their favourite films in 2020, counting down from 10 to 1. The movies come from directors such as Céline Sciamma, Geetu Mohandas, Greta Gerwig, Max Barbakow, Eliza Hittman, and Aaron Sorkin. Stick around to hear us lament about the domination of American pop culture, and why we’ll never discuss La La Land on The Long T...

Is director Vikramaditya Motwane’s meta-mockumentary AK vs AK a one-line premise stretched too thin? We discuss the film’s inventive approach to Bollywood satire, actors Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap’s willingness to lampoon themselves, and cinematographer Swapnil Sonawane’s use of long takes. Later, we find time to rant about Indian film critics (it us) being treated dismissively by internationa...

With Tenet , has Christopher Nolan become too Nolan-y, verging on self-parody? We discuss the filmmaker’s delayed sci-fi espionage thriller, the problems with its time inversion mechanic, the admirable action set-pieces, and—the big question—whether it is worth a trip to the cinemas. Later, we talk about Disney’s newly-unveiled massive slate, with a focus on Star Wars and Marvel. — Hosted by Akhil...

Can Mank —an insider tale about ‘30s Hollywood, through the eyes of Citizen Kane co-writer Herman J. Mankiewicz—win Netflix its first best picture Oscar? We discuss David Fincher’s technical choices, his commitment to a discredited version of events, and the film’s mainstream appeal (or rather, the lack of it). Later, we talk about HBO Max’s game-changing announcement, which will bring 18 Warner B...

Where does the $200-million Mulan stand in the pantheon of Disney’s live-action remakes? We discuss the film’s multiple behind-the-scenes controversies, its treatment of Gong Li’s shapeshifting character, and how it panders to Chinese interests (in vain). Later, we talk about Netflix’s terrible new reality series The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives , and Asif Kapadia’s documentary film Diego Mar...

Is Steve McQueen’s anthology film series— Small Axe —the most personal he has ever been? We dive into the first film in the series, Mangrove . We discuss its unexpected similarities to The Trial of the Chicago 7 , McQueen’s distinctive direction, and the ambition of his five-film experiment. Small Axe is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and Amazon Prime Video in the US. Later, we talk about Del...

Is the fourth season of The Crown —the Netflix drama about the British royal family—the best one yet? We discuss creator Peter Morgan’s impressionistic take on history, the performances of its ensemble cast—including Olivia Colman, Gillian Anderson, and Emma Corrin—and whether the show is an indictment of the monarchy, or a celebration of it. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Tak...

Come for the rants about Laxmii , stay for recommendations on what to watch instead in the realm of transgender cinema. We discuss Akshay Kumar’s messiah complex, the film’s rotten writing, its harmful depiction of trans people, and whether it can even be described as a “movie”. Later, we talk about the government’s decision to regulate streaming content, and how that could affect the industry. —...

Is Hansal Mehta’s Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story worth the hassle of dealing with SonyLIV? We discuss the word-of-mouth hit, including the treatment of its controversial subject, its themes of morality, greed, and corruption, and the performances of its largely unknown cast. Later, we talk about the artistic counter-attack launched by Hollywood filmmakers against Donald Trump during his presid...

Is Sacha Baron Cohen’s secretly filmed satire sequel, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm , the final blow to an (hopefully) outgoing president or a pointed exploration of American society? We also discuss the legitimacy of that outrageous Rudy Giuliani scene, the film’s unexpected feminist values, and the performances of its leads: newcomer Maria Bakalova, and Cohen. Later, we talk about another Netflix I...

Is Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy a faithful adaptation of Vikram Seth’s lengthy novel, or does it get tangled up in its own excesses and restrictions? We also talk about its ensemble cast, the show’s relevance to today’s India, and whether making it largely in English was a good idea. Later, we discuss the reopening of Indian cinemas during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and whether or not we’d go to...

Where does Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 rank in his illustrious filmography? We discuss its similarities to the Oscar-winning screenwriter’s past work, the performances of the ensemble cast—including Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Rylance, and Jeremy Strong—and the film’s urgent message. Later, we talk about a viral review of Netflix’s horror series The Haunting of Bly Manor and whether film...

Is Amazon’s flagship series, The Boys , really as intelligent as it thinks it is? We discuss the show’s recently-concluded second season, its muddled plot-driven storytelling, and sprawling political and cultural themes. Later, we discuss the reported involvement of Jamie Foxx’s Electro and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange in Spider-Man 3 —the sequel to Spider-Man: Far From Home —and the quie...

Is Sudhir Mishra’s satire Serious Men —starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui—one of Netflix’s best Indian films or a half-baked exploration of delicate socio-political themes? Later, we discuss Disney’s decision to hire Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins to direct The Lion King 2 , and co-host Rohan Naahar talks about his return to the world of football. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is...

Can the Millie Bobby Brown-led Enola Holmes be the start of another franchise for Netflix? We also discuss Henry Cavill’s take on Sherlock Holmes and the film‘s Brexit allegory. Later, we talk about Emmy winners— Schitt’s Creek (which wiped the floor) and (the brilliance of) Succession —and the disappointment that is Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare . — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar ,...

Is Netflix’s star-studded The Devil All the Time a major awards contender or an ambitious failure? We also discuss how Netflix is doing the sensible thing by going back to the drawing board with Baahubali: Before the Beginning , and why the “alarming” Netflix docudrama The Social Dilemma left us underwhelmed. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please co...

Is Cargo —Arati Kadav’s debut sci-fi fantasy film, led by Vikrant Massey and Shweta Tripathi—really as original as everyone says it is? We also discuss whether Warner Bros. is making a mistake by betting on Dune director Denis Villeneuve, and why Mrs. Serial Killer will be considered a masterpiece—in 30 years. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please c...

Charlie Kaufman’s new film, i’m thinking of ending things , is a cerebral experience, but is it an emotional one? We also discuss the death of Chadwick Boseman, the lasting legacy of his films, and why stories about race might be more appealing if told through genre. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please consider donating if you enjoy our work. The...

Does Mahesh Bhatt’s awful Sadak 2 have the power to ruin the careers of everyone involved? We also talk about the original Sadak , India’s obsession with godmen, and Alia Bhatt’s immense love for her dad. Later, we discuss the happenings of DC FanDome, from our hopes and fears surrounding Zack Snyder’s Justice League to why we’re excited for Matt Reeves’ take on The Batman . — Hosted by Akhil Aror...

Does the Bobby Deol-starrer Class of ’83 end Shah Rukh Khan’s dismal run with Netflix? We also talk about the film’s irresponsible tone, its committee-style filmmaking — and the ongoing controversy around Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl . — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please consider donating if you enjoy our work. The Long Take is available on Spot...

Does the Janhvi Kapoor-led Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl deserve all the hate coming its way? We also discuss progressive patriotism, the IAF’s efforts to clamp down on the film, and how self-censorship will ruin streaming. — Hosted by Akhil Arora and Rohan Naahar , The Long Take is fully bootstrapped. Please consider donating if you enjoy our work. The Long Take is available on Spotify , Apple P...