Desperate Endeavors

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Desperate Endeavors

PG-13

Released Sep 7, 2012

1h 50m

Comedy

Drama

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3 Reviews

85%

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50+ Ratings

An emigrant of India tries to succeed in New York City in 1973.

Rachel Saltz

New York Times

The movie, stuck like a scratched record, doesn't know what to make of this one point it compulsively and clumsily dramatizes.

Rated: 1.5/5

Sep 6, 2012

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Banal, contrived and stilted with a made-for-TV movie feel.

Rated: 4.88/10

Sep 9, 2012

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Maitland McDonagh

Film Journal International

Earnest drama about an Indian immigrant who learns the hard way that the streets of 1973 New York aren't paved with gold has some effective moments despite its reliance on clichs and stereotypes.

Sep 6, 2012

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Audience Member

Boring, poor editing decisions from the director, horrible dialogue, unlikable main character, need I go on?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Based on a true story, this film really relives the moments of the 70s. The story of every immigrant american who migrates, struggles, gets in and out of trouble(numerous times) and finally makes it here. Very good direction by Salim Khasa and great acting by Ismail. Worth spending the hour and thirty minutes to see this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the movie today and I definitely found myself intrigued by all the characters, not just by Ram. Even though the story takes place in the 70's it's not hard to feel as though you could be in their shoes. Everyone goes through some tough times making it easy to relate to not just Ram, but also with his family and friends. It's a very easy movie to find yourself caught up in and holding out to see how everything turns out. Definitely worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Last week I had the pleasure to watch Desperate Endeavors and I truly enjoyed it. The struggles that the main character (Ram) goes through really puts you to pain and you root for him to succeed throughout the entire film. I think it's a film that anyone who has gone through rough times could enjoy (which is pretty much all of us). The director uses light/dark as a great way to set the mood, and the cast is filled with all kinds of unique characters (such as the cab driver, played by Michael Madsen), all of which are a fun addition to the main theme. You never know what to expect for each character that Ram encounters.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Great film and the soundtrack was outstanding

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Salim Khassa

Director

Ismail Bashey

Ram

Gulshan Grover

Dada

Lavrenti Lopes

Dilip

Deborah Green

Serene

Samrat Chakrabarti

Adesh

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Synopsis

An emigrant of India tries to succeed in New York City in 1973.

Director: Salim Khassa
Producer: Salim Khassa
Screenwriter: Salim Khassa, Don L. Wilhelm
Production Co: Look Before You Leap Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 2012, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2019
Runtime: 1h 50m

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