SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE FILM REVIEW October 29, 2008 Filed under: Uncategorized — schemescam22 @ 6:12 am
Holy crap, where do I begin? Let me just say it is really sad when a non-Indian director, Danny Boyle, does more justice to REAL India than most Indian filmmakers today. Danny Boyle is the director of modern classics such as 28 Days Later, Millions, and Trainspotting (which taught me not to do drugs more than my teachers did) and returns with this amazing film based in India. I can’t say enough about this film. How about I start with a summary? Jamal Malik (a fantastic Dev Patel) grows up in the slums of India, and navigates through his torturous and thrilling life simply with one goal, to be reunited with his childhood love, Latika (Freida Pinto). And he discovers that possibly the only way to reunite with her is to go on the nationally beloved show, Kaun Banega Crorepati (which is the Indian Who Wants to be a MIllionaire?). That overview seems so dry and flat, it definitely does not to justice to what the film displays. This film is brought to greater heights by so many various aspects (the acting by EVERY single person is top-notch particularly Patel and the kids), but the director and screenwriter ultimately make this film. Simon Beaufoy, the writer for The Full Monty and other films, structures the film in such an absorbing and new way. Basically the film switches between Jamal on Kaun Banega Crorepati, and a background of his life and why he is able to answer all these questions. It’s a very smart way to engage the audience, there was more than one time where the audience was reacting viscerally to what was going on in the film. It’s a roller coaster emotional ride to say the least, one moment you are laughing hysterically at the character’s situations and then crying or fright for what’s at stake. It’s a testament to what good writing and structure can do a film. I’ll definitely be studying this screenplay for some pointers in the future, and I think the Academy should take note too! And this fast-paced epic (yes I think it can be aptly named a mini-epic) definitely owes it’s power to Danny Boyle. The opening moments of this film are some of the best I’ve seen in a while, with so many swift crazy shots amalgamated into one exciting scene. Also, there are a couple of montages (not the dreadful Oscar ones), but really good montages set to a really great mix of A.R. Rahman and M.I.A (Oscar please! You gave one to that Mafia group, you can spare one for these people). It sounds confusing, but when you watch it, you’ll understand what I am trying to put it words. It seems nearly impossible, I suppose. Danny Boyle filming at the Taj Mahal (great scene in the film!) I was initially ambivalent about this film, but was bowled over. I can’t think of this film being in anyone else’s hands. Danny Boyle, the cinematographer, set designer, and pretty much anyone who worked on this movie to make it what it is, handled the slum situation in India beautifully. You can tell how in love Boyle fell in love with this contradiction that is known as India. I already knew about how life there was like, but it was great to walk out of the theater, and hear people say “That was a great movie, but damn I didn’t know that people lived like that.” It says something about your filmmaking skills when you can produce a movie that people can truly enjoy and get lost in, while getting a reality check at the same time. So even though I am upset that this film got an R rating (how could The Dark Knight get PG-13 and this didn’t?), I really really urge you to go see this film. I definitely say it is the best film, besides Wall-E, that I have seen all year, and you will truly be missing out on this award-worthy classic if you don’t. http://schemescam22.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/slumdog-millionaire-film-review/
