Movie Review: The Last Lear is slyly over the top

MUMBAI: The Last Lear, directed by Rituporno Ghosh is what I would describe as a great idea that doesn't quite translate into a great film.

An adaptation of a play by Utpal Dutt, The Last Lear uses the film-within-a-film device to tell the story of Harish Mishra or Harry, an ageing theatre actor played by Amitabh Bachchan who knows Shakespeare off the top of his head, and who's persuaded by hotshot new-age film director Siddharth (played by Arjun Rampal) to perform his first ever film role as an old, disfigured clown.

Harry struggles with the cinematic process, but finds refuge in dispensing acting tips to his co-star Shabnam (played by Preity Zinta), with whom he gradually develops a warm friendship.