Slumdog Millionaire (Theatrical – 2008)
Fox Searchlight / 2009
Directed by Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
Written by Simon Beaufoy, Vikas Swarup
Cast: Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan,
Review by Phillip Escott
Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is an 18 year old orphan who has grown up on the streets of Mumbai with his older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal). His life is about to change though, he’s been accepted onto the television show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He seems to know all the answers and this causes speculation in the host and the authorities. When the show comes to an end with him left with the million dollar question he is arrested and tortured by the police who refuse to believe an impoverished teenager would have such a wide general knowledge. We learn of Jamal’s tragic past and how each question relates to these tragic chapters in his life and how they have led him to the answers. The real question however, is why would a seemingly un-materialistic young man be on such a game show?
Slumdog Millionaire is an odd film, it’s marketed as the ‘feel good movie of the year’ but when you actual sit through its two hour run time, you find that this a film filled with suffering. Jamal’s mother is killed, he and his brother are then taken and exploited by an apparent good willed man, the girl he loves is raped by his psychotic brother… the list is endless and as you can see, it’s not exactly ‘feel good’ material. However, there is a spirit in Jamal that is never shattered during all his hardship that you cannot help but feel good about. He’s an old fashioned guy in a rapidly modernizing society that has no qualms in leaving him behind; all he needs and wants though, is the woman he loves.
The films strongest point is its visuals, the images are so strong that you can almost smell the slums and feel the sweat of the actors. The story does have its issues; since when has Do You Want to be a Millionaire broadcast live? But in the context of the film it’s easy to look past once the film has placed its hooks into you. And yes, you will leave the cinema with a big ol’ smile on your face once the credits roll… then Danny Boyle adds a cliché Bollywood dance routine to the credits for no apparent reason, which I found a little insensitive and out of place with the movie; luckily you can leave at that point.
Slumdog Millionaire may not be the ‘feel good movie of the year’ in the typical sense but it’s certainly one of its most original. It’s a great rag to riches tale that will overcome the most cynical of the audience members; it also proves that Danny Boyle can do pretty much any sort of movie he applies himself too – luckily this one works well and deserves it’s Oscar nominations.
