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Bend It Like Beckham
Starring:
Parminder K. Nagra (Jesminder Bhamra), Keira Knightley (Juliette
Paxton), Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Joe Anupam Kher), Mr. Bhamra
(Archie Panjabi), Pinky Bhamra (Shaznay Lewis), Mel Frank
Harper (Alan Paxton), Juliet Stevenson (Paula Paxton)
Directed by: Gurinder Chadha
Review
by Christine DePriest
A young
Indian girl struggles to break away from tradition and the
expections set upon her by her family and culture in order
to pursue a dream of one day playing pro-soccer. This is not
exactly a new story. You can change the protagonist, the expectations,
insert dream, and you have a tried and true Hollywood formula.
Though a few issues seem to be glossed over and it appears
things go just a tad too easily for our young heroine, Jess
Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), this is still a highly enjoyable
and somewhat inspiring film.
New It-Girl
(largely due to the success of Pirates of the Caribbean),
Keira Knightly, gives a great supporting performance as chum,
Jules Paxton. However, Nagra is excellent and deserves not
to be overlooked. Also, Juliet Stevenson is a riot as Jules
mom, Paula Paxton who fears for her daughter's sexual identity.
This would
make a great date movie. It's somewhat light, full of laughs
and not so much of a traditional "chick flick" that the guys
will be made to squirm.
Give Christine
a warm welcome; this is her first review at the mighty Shotgun.
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