Post by BIGFANBOY on Nov 21, 2008 5:53:08 GMT -5
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Review by Gary Dean Murray
Danny Boyle is the brilliant director behind Trainspotting and always delivers something different every time he gets to spill celluloid on the screen. His latest is Slumdog Millionaire, and it is easily one of the highlights of 2008.
The movie starts with the Indian version of the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Jamal is a poor kid from the slums who works at a telephone call center, not as a customer service representative, but as a guy who gets the tea for his co-workers. But he is also one question away from winning the big prize. Now, since doctors, lawyers, and learned men have failed to get this far on the show, everyone begins to think that Jamal is cheating his way to the money.
So, a police inspector is brought in to force Jamal to admit he is cheating. After a night of torture, the inspector decides to interview our young contestant in order to find out how he knows so many different things. This starts a series of flashbacks that explains the journey of Jamal and his brother Salim. Jamal is pure of heart and Salim is almost the Artful Dodger of the slums.
The film breaks up our actors into a trio of different performances. First, these Slumdog kids are shown playing cricket and fighting to survive. How Jamal knows the answer to a question about a Bollywood star is both touching a truly gross. The brutality of being a Muslim on the streets comes home with a family death that drives the two boys to an orphanage. Along the way, they befriend Latika another abandoned child. She becomes their third Musketeer.
By playing the game, Jamal goes through the high and low points of his eighteen years. He knows the face on the US $100 bill because he gave one to a fellow Slumdog who is now a beggar on the streets. All his life has been for a single purpose, to save Latika because he loves her. And the reason he is on the show is that he knows she watches it.
Even though some people hate subtitles, this is a film that is so cleaver in execution that the subtitles are almost never noticed. Only the first third, when the first group of kids are used, do we get the little colored boxes giving dialogue.
As the film goes forward, one can see how India is growing into a major power. The city becomes a character in unto itself, going from a rural slum to a giant towering giant. Director Danny Boyle captures the sights and sounds of this exploding metro-plex, and we feel the growing pains. The film is full of disgusting garbage and stunning vistas, both captivating in their own ways.
Since different actors play most of the roles it is quite hard to assign praises to different roles. But head and shoulders above all the performances is Dev Patel. This unknown has both a simple charm while on the TV show, but still keeps a cunning eye on all his proceedings. It is amazing in its candor and innocence. This is a true star-making performance
Slumdog Millionaire is such a fun movie, the kind of film you hope all films would strive to be. It has a true heart and true sentiments without ever cheating the audience. Simply put, it is one of the brightest points of light and one of the best films of the year. If you are looking for one of the best movie going experiences out there, don’t miss this little gem.
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