Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Slumdog Millionaire Review

better late than never?

Interested in a big screen version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Perhaps you're looking for a gritty coming of age journey? Do you like foreign language flavored arthouse dramas? Do adrenaline-fueled flashback / flashforward adventures pique your interest? Perhaps you're not fussy about genres so long as True Love conquers all? If any of this appeals to you than Slumdog Millionaire might just hit your sweet spot. It has a habit of doing that if you've been following its pre-release festival life through to its great per screen average in limited release. The rest of us can just marvel at how much high-speed juggling this frenetic Oscar hopeful does.

Slumdog tells the rather hard to swallow story of a orphan boy in Mumbai --his mother is murdered very early in the picture -- who competes on his country's franchise of the global Millionaire phenomenon. Miraculously he knows all the answers without so much as a grade school education. The game show is concerned that he's cheating and, to allay their suspicions, Jamal (Skins star Dev Patel) explains how he came to know the answers. The film toggles between this investigation, the actual game show and multiple vignettes about his childhood and adolescence that reveal how he came by these very random answers.

Read the rest ...
*

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess Milk is your favourite so far out of the 5 you predict as Best Pic nominees, right? Button is the only one there is left to see.

Jim

Film Knower said...

yuuuuuck, dev patel was so shit in skins.

Anonymous said...

wow that was a completely moronic review... but to each their own

Anonymous said...

although i thought this film was a tad overpraised, i actually think this is a good movie. i am surprised that that you rated this lower than "australia", which i think is a big let down. ok, nicole was there. hence, the b.

NATHANIEL R said...

Well Nicole's presence alone can't guarantee a B. I mean she still has to atone for Stepford Wives and that movie about not falling asleep (I've already blocked it out) ;)

my thing with Australia is I admire it's craziness and Baz's ambition and I like movies that are in love with movies.

I liked slumdog. I just wasn't "wow"ed. hence the mixed review... although this probably reads a smidge more negative than I'd intended.

Anonymous said...

Can you also add that movie where she was a witch and where she played a certain Mrs. Coulter?

I still think that this film does not have the assurance of bagging a Best Picture nod. However, having not seen a number of Oscar hyped movies, I will keep my thoughts to myself. I did enjoy this film, though.

lylee said...

I totally agree with this review. Nice job.

Unknown said...

a perfectly picturised and well arranged movie. it's trhe one that leaves an impact on the mind..............u'll never find a leak in the narration as well as picturisation.

A classic what i can say of..........
A real beauty,,,,,,,,,,extreme appreciation frm my account

Slow Down and Fast said...

This film was absolutely beautiful. Wonderful story, cinematography, acting, everything.

We loved the film so much that we did a spoof on the film called Redneck Slumdog Millionaire

You can see the trailer at this youtube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmdH3SnBKXc

Anonymous said...

While it is nice to see a movie based in India that doesn’t make it a great film.

The film is just a slightly above mediocre Hollywood movie that has Indian actors instead of Americans.

The film is ultra predictable, cheesy, and the characters are shallow.

Why does he fall in love with her? There is no real chemistry between the characters. The audience is given no reason to believe there is any connection there. Why does he like her? She is hot? That is it.

The good looking people get together and get rich, the bad and not as pretty people lose, die, get shot, The End. How many films are like this? Like a million…

This is style (cute kids, great scenery in the movie) over substance.

Anonymous said...

we wrote a review after we watched the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” and we say yep it’s a nice one. You should watch this independent production from Regisseurs Danny Boyle (”Trainspotting”) not only because this movie won all 4 categories at the golden globe awards... more on http://www.dexflu.eu/blog/index.php/who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire/

have fun!

Anonymous said...

Slumdog is a must watch movie!!!
This movie comprises all aspects of a human being..the movie has been done with tremendous editing, cinematography and direction!
People who r criticising this movie, doesn't have the basic sense of understandability.
I hope this movie wins oscar..In any case it is worth more.

Anonymous said...

I know you weren't overly impressed but it seems to be doing well with awards so far...
http://thescorecardreview.com/news/2009/01/27/slumdog-millionaire-at-sag-awards/2298

Anonymous said...

That was very natural to get slum dog into the Oscar's as the people outside India like the movie because they are showing the worst part of India.
I can't get how the Indian actors agreed on such a film.
India is no more same. Why people are not making movies on the situation created by US in all over the world. Why its India every time. Why people point on poor and beggars in India. Cant they find better thing in India.

And the Indian too agree on this that the movie is good.. Its complete foolishness..
India should have banned such sought of movie..
Shame on our own people. And they call themselves Indians and say we are proud to be Indians...

Anonymous said...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51477573004&ref=mf

subha said...

Slumdog is a million smiles movie.
I am extremely proud to be an Indian, to be a part of country where A R Rahman creates magic. I have no issues to say slumdog has depicted the negative picture of India, because that is the truth!!Indian is what we have seen in Slumdog.. An exact depiction of India..It is great! Thanks for bringing Oscars.

Anonymous said...

"Slumdog Millionaire" is a great movie with fabulous performances from the whole casting team specially the child artists. It is also a well-made movie with a wonderful music track. All in all, a must watch for all cine-goers...

Anonymous said...

An absolute disappointment and an overrated film. With a totally unrealistic quiz show scenes. With the exception of the child actors, the adult cast (in particular the main actor) really let the film down.

deborah said...

I thought I was the only person in the world who had a negtative reaction to Slumdog.

What a dissappointment. I love love stories, star-crossed lovers, etc. But I don't think that's what this movie was about.

I honestly feel that everyone missed the point of this movie - it wasn't a movie about how love conquers all, or hope or underdogs coming out on top.

To me this was a movie depicting the desapir and poverty brought on by over population and under education. The only hope of escape available is "gangsterism" or the outlandish possibility of winning a game show.

Growing up in the 60's when we were all going to become Buddists or Hindus, go to India like the Beatles and live in ashrams and mediatate peace into the world, India was the water color world of antiquity to me. I wanted to see this place of ancient beauty. Then, several years ago, the Amazing Race went to India. Just Like TAR made me want to visit Viet Nam, it drove all desire to visit India out of my head. The country looked dirty, over crowded, and just plain unappealing. And that's what Slumdog showed me, a movie about a country quickly sinking into a pit of poverty, gangsters and dirt. For me this was a movie made as a warning - a signpost saying there but for the grace go you, so take care.
Sure there are bright colors and a neat bollywood dance number at the end, but remember a spoonful of sugar etc.