Sleeper - Movie Review

This is another of Woody Allen's funny ones. Made in 1973 it's about a person from 1973 who is cryogenically frozen and who is awakened 200 years later in some futuristic land led by a crazy dictator.

As always there is an underground movement against the organized and controlled system and it is the rebels who defrost Allen or Miles Munroe to help them. Munroe is not too kicked with the idea but has no other go really because the system is after him 'the alien'. In the process he uncovers the poet Luna (Diane Keaton) who loves her spaced out sessions with her orb and other friends, and her machine induced orgasmic sex. Anyway Luna and Miles infiltrate the hospital and find out that all that's left of the leader is his nose. They destroy the nose and find love. Allen ends the movie with a famous line - All that I am certain about is taxes and sex - or something like that.

I laughed out loud at some of his lines and antics. The part where they try to recreate the body of the dictator using cells from his nose, Allen trying to walk off by putting the nose over his own nose, the shot where he beats the fast growing cake at home into size and many such gags are so laughable. I like his sense of humour. One to keep and watch.

Sons and Daughters of India

I was watching some awards ceremony last night and was struck by how many sons and daughters of filmi personalities were now filmi personalities. From Salman Khan, Hritik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Farhan Akhthar, Tushar Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor and so on and on the list is endless in the male side with few exceptions of a Shahrukh or a Ranveer Singh. On the female side also the ring is somewhat packed with Karishma Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Kareena Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Kajol etc with some exceptions like Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan. I mean wherever I saw I could only see fathers and mothers and their sons and daughters, cousins and relatives. Makes one wonder why everyone screams so much about meritocracy here in India.

It's not much different when we look at the political scene either. From the Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Jaganmohan Reddy, Kanimozhi, Stalin, Alagiri, Kumaraswamy and so on, the list of fathers and mothers and sons and daughters goes on and on. Food for thought really.

I doubt if it is different in business either. How many companies are family run and how many are professionally run? Take the Birlas, Tatas, Ambanis, Mahindras, Infosys and others and check out how many sons and fathers, daughters and mothers one finds. There are many cases there as well. In fact in business circles they also marry carefully, so the wealth only increases and every one's interests taken care of. So we have uncles and aunts in the government, in the judiciary, in the press, in the industry and everything is under control and taken care of.

In this context it's nice to see the AAP guys, mistakes and all. They may also have some vague form of bias I am sure.

But just goes to say that all this talk of meritocracy is a lot of humbug. Us, ours, is the mantra. The joke is on the rest.

Top 10 Behaviors of a Leader - My Take

If one were to give the top 10 behavioral traits of a leader, these would be mine.

1) Be Approachable - At all times. Smile. It reassures people that all is well. Much of your job is to send a feeling of well being. Also to give space for others to express and contribute.

2) Always give the illusion that everything is under control - Even if it is not. As the leader the team looks to you. You must always deal in hope and look like you have the aces up your sleeve, that all is in control. In negotiations, don't play your cards too soon.Control emotions - No extremes. Shows instability and makes people hold back.

3) Speak less, listen more - In almost every single interview or meeting, follow that. You'll be amazed at what comes out. Ask questions even if you know the answers to find out what the others are thinking. Give space.

Even when someone does a good job, don't over-praise. Convey to them subtly that you expect more. Say just enough to know you have acknowledged and appreciated but leave out enough that conveys you expect more. Push , make them want to do more.

4) Speak to the front line employees - Always know what the guys at the front are thinking. Keep those lines open.

5) Dress appropriately - Enough to make people know you're organized and meticulous. Don't need to dazzle.

6) Actions - Be specific and precise in your actions. Every single one sets an example for your team.

7) Be early - Creates the impression that you are serious. Similarly reply on time, keep track of promises made etc. Always keep commitments, provide closure.

8) Be understanding and supportive - It is good to have genuine care for people. They will give their life for you. Just as it is good to believe that they can

9) Share credit for team success, take blame for failures - Always do that.

10) Treat everyone equally - No favorites. That will undo everything.

That's my top 10 behaviors list. Add any that come to your mind. Also interesting to rate our leaders on the above.

Where Have All the 'Nice' Girls Gone?

This one was written some 15 years ago when it was considered funny and everyone of the sexes laughed at it. Now it may be seen as sexist. But here's the disclaimer - this was written in jest and may be treated so. In fact with my additional experience of 15 more years with the fairer sex I realize that they are all more than just 'nice' .

It has been the cherished dream of all adolescent boys and like minded men since Adam to find the quintessential 'nice' girl. 'Nice' girls are the ones all men want to propose to. They are demure and coy. Their hair is soft and fluffy and they induce an indulgent look into every man's eyes.

There is more to nice girls.

They sob themselves red eyed at sad movies and bury their heads in responsive shoulders in scary ones. They shut their eyes tight during violent scenes (and close the guy's eyes during adult scenes). Nice girls find endless happiness in babies, pups and flowers and are terrified to death of cockroaches, snakes and frogs. They are highly pious and easily prone to charitable activities (they also prefer to be virgins till they marry!).

'Nice' girls have peaches and cream complexion with hair that blows in the air like a poem. Their eyes are soulfully big and white as a baby’s and their lips are red and soft, demure. When they smile a warm glow spreads all over the heavens and when they cry, the world is draped in gloom. When they are in trouble all men rise as one to protect them and when they are despondent every heart aches to comfort them.

All guys want to take the 'nice' girl out for coffee because God gave all men the same dream. Sometimes she may confide her dreams and aspirations over coffee; secrets that guys safeguard with their life. When she finds something funny she giggles uncontrollably (never laughs full throatedly) and causes every guy to dream of that moment when she would fall into his arms, soft as a dew laden flower.

Naturally all men want to meet her and eventually marry her (its another thing that she happens to marry the one guy all guys hate). But the problem is that she does not seem to be around anymore.

She has somehow morphed into a confident young woman who wears trousers to work. She prefers jeans to flowery skirts on a date (just in case there is a flat and she needs to change the tyre), has a python for a pet and likes riding heavy motorcycles. Her hair has weird colours and is sometimes spiky to suit the mood. She sports black lipstick and silvery accompaniments that strike the fear of God in most people and if that does not do the trick, her knowledge of dangerous martial arts and four letter words will.

She does not need the young man to help out (in fact can help out the young man better) and does not take nonsense from anyone. She does not believe in marrying because she has been out on two successive dates with the same guy and does not complicate simple issues like having a blast with getting engaged. Talk of late nights, pre-marital sex etc does not make her faint (on the other hand she is quite capable of making guys blush when she gets into a risque mood). She can share a cigarette as well as a drink and puts greedy traffic cops and rude waiters quickly in their place (she can also manage tickets in black better). She can handle situations with jealous ex/current boyfriends just as efficiently as she handles her career graph and is most likely earning more than most guys around. She also has an exact idea whom to marry and what she wants to do with her life, time and money.

There is no denying the fact that these subtle changes to the woman's lifestyle are wonderful, except for the fact that it makes life pretty difficult for the man. Most men would agree that its certainly a difficult proposition to make a macho impression on a woman who carries weapons stronger than tears and pockets deeper than his own. No wonder then, that despite such sterling features in the new, improved woman, men continue to search dreamily for the fading clan of 'nice' girls. After all they are a lot easier to propose to than a gym trained kick boxer who jabs you sharply in the ribs for a greeting, guffaws like a ruffian and puts away rum like a sailor.

Leadership Types From Mindset, Carol Dweck

This is a chapter I loved reading from Carol Dweck's book 'Mindset - The New Psychology of Success'. Some highlights that I liked.

In one study on why certain business houses were thriving it was found that the type of a leader made a big difference. The leaders -

• were self-effacing
• asked questions
• had the ability to confront brutal answers
• looked failures in the eye (including their own)
• maintained faith that they would succeed in the end.

They were also the types who were

• always trying to improve
• surrounded themselves with able people
• asked what skills they and their company would need in the future
• made plans grounded on facts
• looked at mistakes
• used feedback and altered strategies based on facts and feedback.

Since they were based on solid ground, and they were committed to long term growth, they maintained self-confidence.

Typically the team or company under a growth oriented leader brightens, expands, fills with energy and always believes in possibilities. Perfect.

Carol Dweck considered the styles of three corporate leaders - Jack Welch, Lou Gerstner and Anne Mulcahy.

On Welch -

• he would always spend time at the front line
• respected, learned and nurtured his front line employees as with others
• believed in team work
• was supportive and understanding
• always selected people based on their mindset.
• promoted growth (discouraged elitism)
• believed and supported shared values
• always shared credit.

Self-confidence is defined as having the courage to be open to change..
When Welch went for his CEO interview he made no promises except to promise to grow and develop.

On Gerstner -

• always looked at people who used meetings to solve a problem
• supported team work
• rewarded people who helped their colleagues
• linked bonuses to overall performances of the company and not individual performances
• always demanded better execution and focused on getting the job done (not merely plan)
• highly customer focused 

On Anne Mulcahy -
She learned the business - debt, inventory, taxes etc. She took large binders home to understand and predict how each decision would work out. When she first took over not many could answer questions like - what they did? Who was in charge? She soon changed that. Anne was tough but was also genuine enough to care for people and apologise to those who had to go. She kept the culture going - of retirement parties and retiree reunions. Always recognized passion and growth and not brilliance. And showed great gratitude for the people who made it possible.

A study is quoted where growth oriented leaders looked for honest opinions and encouraged disagreement. The idea of Groupthink is discussed here - a dangerous situation where everyone agrees either out of fear or a feeling of pointlessness.

Carol Dweck explores how growth oriented leaders looked at training.

• realized that talent was a good starting point
• committed to employee and own development
• gave developmental coaching
• noticed improvement in performances
• welcomed critique.

Another interesting workshop is discussed where the leaders are asked the following
1) why is it important to understand that people can develop
2) think of their own areas in which they had low ability but where they now perform
3) Have them write to a struggling protégé on how to develop
4) recall how people learnt things that they thought they would never every do
While answering the above leaders were asked to reflect on how and why change took place.

Leaders who wish to foster a growth oriented environment may do well to follow these:

• getting it across that skills are learnable
• that the organization will recognize learning and perseverance, not just talent
• provide feedback that promotes learning and future success
• looks at managers as resources for learning

It is most important that the leader believes in his team and their capacity to deliver.

The bottom line is that they look for potential.



 

The Road to Perdition - Movie Review

Again a movie that has been on the list for too long. Nicely made and full of drama. Father-son duos pitted against one another. Now one of the father's (Tom Hanks) is almost like a son to the other father (Paul Newman) and is fiercely loyal and you have tonnes of conflict. Who chooses to do what and how do they achieve their end?

Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is a hit man for a mafia boss Rooney (Paul Newman) whom he loves like his father. The boss's son Connor (Daniel Craig) is unhinged, lying, deceitful and cruel. He kills a man whom he is sent to negotiate with - a crime that Michael's son sees. Sensing danger Connor kills off Michael's wife and his other son, thinking that he killed off the son who witnessed his crime. But he really needs no witness because Michael escapes being killed by Connor's plant and decides to take revenge. His godfather Rooney decides to support his son and offers peace to Michael who says he needs to kill the man who killed his family. Rooney, fearing for his son's life, sends out a hit man to eliminate the dangerous Michael but Michael evades him, injures him and gets his revenge.

The movie is shot beautifully and earned cinematographer Conrad Hall a posthumous Academy Award. One of those movies where the images will always remain. The killing of Paul Newman and his men in the rain, the scene where Hanks is dying lit in brilliant white and a dazzling red, every frame is perfect. The story is powerful enough with superb conflict and drama throughout and grips you. Fantastic acting by Paul Newman, Tom Hanks and Jude Law. To watch if you haven't.

Flashbacks of a Fool - Movie Review

Daniel Craig stars in this rather vague movie as a has-been actor, Joe Scott. The movie starts with a highly charged sexual scene with lots of nudity with Craig and two women and some drugs and alcohol. Established that he is beyond control! The only semblance of control is his housekeeper, a young girl who is probably a student, Ophelia (I could not get what she was all about). Joe goes to a business meeting and does not get the one role he might have on his hands. And then, he hears of his best friend's death in England (where he is originally from) and goes to attend his funeral. Established that his life is in the pits.

Sometime then flashbacks occur on why and ow Joe Scott ended up in America as a big star - he caused the death of a little girl unintentionally because her mother pushes the little girl out of her home to have a romp with young Joe. Joe loses his best friend and a possible flame due to the well planted love bites by Mrs. Housewife.

Back in England in the present, Joe sees his mother and the widow of his friend (who is in financial trouble), helps them out, and then goes back home. A changed man perhaps but we don't know. There is an interesting tidbit about the wife who seduces him - she has a terrible life and even more terrible death - her head is severed in an accident and is never found. The explanation is that it was carried off by a fox. Such is the movie. Avoid. Why did I pick it? The title sounded interesting. Lesson to be learned - get the right titles.