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| The Namesake | 
 enlarge | Director: Mira Nair
Actors: Irfan Khan, Kal Penn, Jagannath Guha, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Tabu
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $1.84
You Save: $18.14 (91%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 2357
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Hindi (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: FOXD2245608D
UPC: 024543456087
EAN: 0024543456087
ASIN: B000U2U0E4
Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 2007
Release Date: November 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: 100% Guaranteed!! Former rental, Has rental case with stickers. Click on my User ID to check out my other items!! Money Back Guarantee if not satisfied!! All my items are IN STOCK, your order will never be backordered or cancelled!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Very nice! December 3, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just watched "The Namesake" today and I must say it was a very delightful experience. I had waited for it to be in rental DVD, as I had read a lot about the movie. I enjoyed previous Nair's films, and I have always like Tabu's work. Without reading the book, I can say it is well-executed, with beautiful photograhy and excellent music. I was anxious to see a movie that would cover the very contemporary subject of belonging to a culture via parents, and belonging to another physically. I was very very pleased with the result. The only criticism I would have is the lenght. It does cover a lot for one movie, and I was curious to know what happened to some characters after the end. Besides that it was great to see Indian actors doing a great job in an American production. Very recommendable!
 Four and Half Stars December 3, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is both Mira Nair's most comprehensive work and Kal Penn's most engulfing role. He made a wise choice doing this film. I love character-driven dramas, and this one is quite a mixture of heart felt emotion. It's true to Nair's style and Indian heritage in that movies can depict complex emotion without becoming too syrupy. Kal Penn is a winner in this one, and I'd love to see him in more dramas. Up til now we've seen him in nothing but bombastic comedies save for Superman Returns in which he had no speaking part, but it always does an actor good when he exhibits versatility. In one scene, he discovers a secret about his wife and for a split second, there's a forceful bit of rage which makes you go "Wow! Didn't know he had it in him." You want to see more of that. I don't think it's a long shot to say that Kal Penn has Oscar potential because there obviously is more hidden talent within him than meets the eye. Like Jamie Foxx, Penn is anchored in comedy, easily pulled off by his very funny persona; however, I think his strongest suit is drama, and we need to see more of it. He just needs more venues to express it.
Irffan Khan and the ever excellent Tabu pull off extraordinary performances. Bravo to Mira Nair and her crew.
This movie is powerful, but definitely read the novel December 2, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
The novel on which this movie is based, while not Pulitzer-winning like its author Jhumpa Lahiri's first effort (Interpreter of Maladies), is nonetheless very well written and moving. I enjoyed Interpreter of Maladies, and picked up the newer novel just before its theatrical release. Also I admire director Mira Nair's previous film Monsoon Wedding, so with the two of them collaborating to bring this story to the screen, I think they've done an excellent job. It is difficult to take such a story and all of its meaning and distill it into a couple of hours' worth of movie without sacrificing something.
I never expect a movie to be significantly better than the book on which it is based, however, in a couple of places in the film, the on-screen portrayals (due to superb direction and acting) are very emotionally charged and powerful, more so than you'd experience just reading the book. In these instances, the cast really brings some of the more poignant moments of the story to life.
I recommend reading the novel and THEN seeing the movie. For those who saw the movie first and felt it might have been missing something, do yourself a favor and read the book.
A Keepsake November 28, 2007
12 out of 17 found this review helpful
`The Namesake' has several tug-of-wars going at once. Like many immigrants coming to America, there is a draw to the freedoms and folkways of our country while trying to retain the best of the culture they have left behind. Ashoke and his wife, Anshima, leave India to find adventure in the U.S. Starting a family, he names his son Gogol after a friend's favorite Russian author, Gogol Nikolai. Like many second generation Americans, Gogol (Kal Penn of 'Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle' Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (Unrated Edition) (UMD Mini For PSP) tries to fit in socially with his friends. He listens to Pearl Jam, immerses himself in university life, and socializes with his peers. Despite all his company, his name causes him great insecurity and some insensitive jokes. Against his parent's wishes, he changes it to Nick and dates Maxine, an American girl of Northern European descent. However, changes in his life make him embrace his ancestry more enthusiastically.
Later, he dates an American who shares his Indian heritage only to find this brings complications as well. When his father's health falters, he finds himself drawing near to his family. Before his father's health fails, the family goes to India where Gogol discovers the Taj Mahal and the modest residences of relatives in India. It is only later that he uncovers the real treasures of his thoughtful name and the wisdom of his father's words, "There are no accidents." Gogol must live with all these dichotomies with America his home, but India his family`s tradition--and the family members who are scattered about and affected by life's changes. How he chooses between whom he dates and where he lives and draws meaning in life is a revelation for us as well.
Sometimes lost in translation, the gentle humor and heartwarming development of the movie is absorbing and varied enough to keep one's interest. Much like `My Big Fat Greek Wedding' My Big Fat Greek Wedding before it, `The Namesake' is a heart-felt keepsake.
 What is it in a name? November 28, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
What is it in a name that defines us? How did our parents decide upon our names? Some of us are named after our fathers and grandfathers (or mothers and grandmothers) for traditional purposes, others are given names because they were "trendy names" at the time and picked out of baby books. Some of us were given names that have a much deeper meaning, and such is true for our main character in the "Namesake" Gogol.
His parents, both bourn and raised in India make the journey to the U.S for a better life and opportunity not only for themselves, but for the children's future. Their lives and cultures tend to clash with American culture, and their children (although being bourn Indian) are raised within American culture and do not have the same ties to their Indian heritage as their parents do.
Gogol, struggles with his name and does not understand the reasons for it, being named after a famous Russian author who was deemed "crazy" but a genius at the same time. To distance himself from it, he decides to change his name from his "pet name" to Nickoli which was his true name, but never put on the birth certificate. His busy "American life" distances himself from his parents, of which they do not understand. How can friends and business be more important than his family?
Both brother and sister being steeped in American culture cause both frustration and heartache for their parents. Gogol, who despised his given name, learns later on how he came to get that name given to him by his father. The encounter with a train passenger, a terrible train derailment and life changing experience is how he came to be. Gogol's father dies suddenly and only then does he truly begin to understand and embrace his culture, and to accept his true name given to him.
You don't have to be "Indian" to connect with the story. Families are "universal" and watching this film as it unravels over a 25 year span, the message really hits home of the importance of family and our given name. Many names have allot more to them than some of us might know or understand, and that our parents truly deserve more credit than recognized for. This was a very enjoyable film from start to finish, and it has a great soundtrack to back it up. Highly recommended to see, you won't be disappointed.
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