Respond to these rapid questions in our Hotel Mumbai quiz and we will tell you which Hotel Mumbai character you are. Play it now.
How do we establish a proper ethics code around a narrative film that dramatizes a real-life terrorist act in a dramatic way? Do we need to allow for a period of time between the tragedy’s actual occurrence and its Hollywoodized on-screen reflection, which people would eventually watch while munching on their popcorn to satisfy their entertainment-hungry eyeballs? When should these films be released, and is the unfortunate timing of their release right after a deadly attack in Christchurch, New Zealand a little… insensitive? Do these films that depict unspeakable carnage, such as the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, require the production of “The Poseidon Adventure”-style action movies in order to be made? I’m not going to claim to know the answers to any of these questions. For the time being, let me just say that it’s complicated: cinema has always served as a reflection of its times, and storytellers are still navigating their way through the uniquely terrifying events of the twenty-first century. And we haven’t even reached a quarter of the way there as of now.
As I watched and wrestled with Anthony Maras’ searing, startlingly confident debut film “Hotel Mumbai,” in which every fatal bullet fired out of the ruthless terrorists’ semi-automatic weapons hit me in the core, these questions kept crawling up my spine and gnawing at my brain. I have to admit that this accomplished historical action film was one of the most difficult and disconcerting experiences I have had in a long time—even more difficult than Paul Greengrass’ “July 22” and on par with the same filmmaker’s masterful “United 93.” So much so that I almost (almost) resented Maras’ first-rate filmmaking chops and unflinching command of camera and action, which managed to mentally and physically place me among the countless victims and survivors of the majestic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where the majority of his film (co-written by Maras and John Collee) is set, and I almost (almost) resented Maras’ unflinching command of camera and action, which
A sliver of consolation: In “Hotel Mumbai,” the writing duo consistently emphasizes the complex humanity of the characters, which is a welcome relief. In that sense, we are not simply witnessing a jingoistic, crudely sketched battle between the good and the bad characters. There are nuanced shades of good in this film, as well as an abusive hierarchy within the evil, which is delicately depicted not to make the audience feel sorry for the terrorists, but rather to help them understand the chilling indestructibility of terror networks and the terrorist mindset, both of which are explored in depth. The men who slaughter dozens of people at random in the hotel are a group of merciless yet disposable men who have been brainwashed by religious lies, radicalized, and dispatched to carry out massacres by those in power who coldly issue orders over the phone.
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Before we even get to the magnificent hotel, Maras quickly introduces us to the main players, beginning with the Lashkar-e-Taiba jihadists, who arrive in the city by boat and launch a series of deadly attacks across the bustling metropolis, including a major transportation hub and a restaurant, before moving on to the rest of the cast. We are introduced to the happily married father Arjun (an astonishingly brave Dev Patel, who is responsible for the majority of the narrative), who works as a waiter at the Taj and is about to lose a lucrative shift with large tips due to the misplacement of his shoes. At such a prestigious and first-class establishment, his (soon-to-be-hero) boss Hemant Oberoi (the legendary Anupam Kher of “The Big Sick”) is unlikely to allow him to run errands in sandals, especially at a place that takes pride in treating its guests as if they were God. He earns his place back on the service roster by borrowing a pair of shoes that are too small for his feet at the last minute (a small but rich detail you will remember as you follow Arjun’s journey). There would be a number of VIP guests, including an arrogant, womanizing Russian businessman (Jason Isaacs, who has a curious accent) and a well-off family consisting of the architect David (Armie Hammer, who is excellent despite having little to do), his wife Zahra (Nazanin Boniadi, who steals the film), their newborn baby (whose cries while in hiding serve as a recurring source of suspense), and a heroic (Tilda Cobham-Hervey).
Hotel Mumbai Quiz
With the exception of Oberoi, all of the characters are entirely fictitious, and there are numerous dramatic embellishments to the story that serve only to enhance the overall experience. Along the way, phones run out of battery (which is one of the most repeated plot details in Hollywood), families are separated, egotism becomes the worst enemy of certain individuals, and racial profiling threatens the unity of a group of exhausted survivors in the process. Fortunately, Maras and Collee are not willing to give white privilege a free pass, even as the situation becomes more dire by the minute. (With the exception of an earlier scene in which they grant David the overconfidence to order an extremely Americanized burger meal at Taj’s world-class restaurant.) With unquestionable directorial authority throughout, Maras guides the viewer through a maze of rooms, hallways, and backdoor escape routes with clear orientation, even when one loses track of the number of bodies that have been left to rot in the process. The documentary-like cinematography of Nick Remy Matthews, as well as the work of co-editors Maras and Peter McNulty, weave together a massive canvas, giving the impression of a claustrophobic horror film unfolding in real time.
Also, you will find out which character are you in this Hotel Mumbai quiz.
After all is said and done, the question remains: what are we to do with all of this filmmaking dexterity when it is being used to support an effort that, despite the best of intentions, feels exploitative and too soon after the fact. I’ll leave it up to you to decide, because I suspect the answer will be influenced by your level of tolerability. For my part, I’m looking forward to seeing what the bright young Maras will accomplish in the future.
For more personality quizzes check this: The Lighthouse Quiz.
