We finally got around to see Lion. The movie is based on a true story from the book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley with Larry Buttrose. It tells the story of a young boy, Saroo, who gets separated from his brother aboard a train in India. After various adventures, Saroo finds an Australian couple want to adopt him. Saroo and his adoptive parents (Nicole Kidman and David Wentham) move to Australia. Twenty years later, Saroo moves to Melbourne to study hotel management. He starts a relationship with Lucy. As they share Indian food with friends, Saroo starts to recall his childhood. He confides that he is adopted, and his friends suggest that Saroo use Google Earth to search for his hometown. I found Lion to be an uplifting film. Lion received six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Patel), Best Supporting Actress (Kidman) and Best Adapted Screenplay. GRADE: A-
Heresy in some quarters, I know, but am not normally a fan of the deep-frozen emoting of Nicole Kidman but I really want to see this one (and Patel is awesome).
Sergio, I think you’ll enjoy LION. It’s a moving story.
I really liked this film a lot. The first half was mesmerizing. The second half interesting too. Kidman was okay but it was the boys’ movie.
Patti, I agree. Nicole Kidman wasn’t given much to do. It was the young man’s story all the way.
The child playing young saroo stole hearts at the golden globes. I saw Patel and Kidman on the Graham Norton show, and they also raved about the kid. I’ll see this, just not at the theater.
Maggie, whenever and wherever you see LION, you’re going to love it!
Well, by now Patel should know everything about hotel management!
I’m not a big Nicole Kidman fan either, but this is on Jackie’s list, way above Manchester by the Sea or some of the others.
Jeff, you and Jackie will find LION to be an inspiring story.
Barbara wants to see it, but her movie-going friend is leaving for Hawaii tomorrow for 2 months. She doesn’t like going alone, so I may get dragged along.
Rick, you would like LION. And, you’ll earn brownie points with Barbara if you go with her. She’ll enjoy LION, too.
George, I am going to watch LION not just because of the story and the setting but also because in many ways it is a reflection of child adoption in India by foreign nationals. Besides, I liked Dev Patel in the two “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” films.
Prashant, like you I’ve enjoyed Dev Petel’s performances in the THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD movies. This role is very different, but Patel deserves his Oscar nomination.