Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Synopsis (Rotten Tomatoes): British director Danny Boyle takes another intriguing career turn with this heartfelt underdog tale. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a street kid (or "slumdog") who has landed an appearance on India's version of the hit TV game show WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Jamal exceeds expectations on the show, and the producers alert the police after they become suspicious of his methods. The young contestant is subsequently arrested and is interrogated at the hands of a nameless police inspector (played by Bollywood star Irfan Khan). As the interrogation proceeds, Boyle tells Jamal's story through harrowing flashbacks that both show the terrible poverty of Mumbai and help explain how he knew the answers to the MILLIONAIRE questions. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is a tightly woven story that has been expertly edited into shape. The contrast between Jamal's upbringing and his chance of escaping it on the show are adeptly juxtaposed. Mumbai is portrayed as a place of terrifying poverty and unforgettable brutality, and Jamal and his brother get into a never-ending succession of challenging situations. But the way Boyle ties together Jamal's life experiences with his answers on the show is quite brilliant, and the film really does run the full gamut of emotions as we see him growing up, falling in love, coming close to death, and teetering on the brink of escaping from his terrible predicament. The film belongs to Boyle's cast, who are mostly unknown outside of India. Patel, in particular, gives a startlingly mature performance that audiences are likely to remember long after the credits role on this affecting feature
Impressions that I Get: Danny Boyle has really established himself as an absolutely top notch director after the gem that was Slumdog Millionaire. This film walked quite the balance between being intense and entertaining while still mantaining excellent filmsmanship and showing the horrific beauty of poverty in India. The shots of the slums of Mumbai and Bombay, the cross country trains, and the rich urban centers were simply stunning. This was masterfully shot and edited, each sequence seeming fresh and overflowing with details.
As for the acting, Devi Patel turns in a great performance as the humble young man who has overcome everything to achieve his "destiny." His true love, Lakita, is not extraordinary in her role, but is very beautiful and the motif clip of her smiling could melt a heart of stone. The children that are used to play the younger versions of the characters are great and unbelievably adorable. Also, while the plot of Slumdog may be somewhat predictable, it is presented in an unique way through the flashbacks and question answers. This might seem like it would be simplistic and contrived, but it actually captures the complexities and "little things" of Jamal's life quite well. The irony of the last question simply put a smile on my face and, although the film seemed to lose a bit of steam at the end, I was glued to the screen for every minute. Feeling the pains and joys of the "Three Musketeers" was simply a viewing treat. Slumdog Millionaire was rich with detail and will take you to a land that few will ever see. Here's to another fine film of 2008. -AT
Acting (8.5/10)- Excellent job by Patel, solid supporting cast
Plot (8.5/10)- Could be considered predictable, but still kept me riveted
Cinematography (10/10)- Gorgeous, simply rich. Best I've seen in awhile
Originality (9/10)- Loved the way this was presented, stand out indie movie of the year
My Grade: A-
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