"Who wants to be a mill-in-air?" So asks the the host of the Indian version of the hit game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" to unlikely contestant, Jamal Malik, an orphaned product of India's 3rd world slums, and hero of the exhilirating new film,"Slumdog Millionaire." My favorite movie of 2008. (Tied w/ The Dark Knight, but totally different)
Danny Boyle's excellent "Slumdog Millionaire" tell the story of two young boys, Jamal and Salim Malik, and their female friend, Latika, as they grow up and find their own paths to survival and success from just about the worst of situations. In the process one boy attempts finds true and devoted love, while the other attemps to find his redemption. It is vibrant, exciting, scarry, fun, funny, and moving; in a word brilliant.
The movie is centered around Jamal Malik, now a young man, played by Dev Patel, who is having unexpected success on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" The game show itself, as well as his interrogation due to his success on the show, is the structural foundation, from which the rest of the story unfolds and is built upon. Each question leads to a different episode in the young man's life, and explains how he got to where he is at that day. These episodes lead chronologically up through time to the tension filled finale', where the biggest reward, or loss, may or may not be the million dollars. It is a bold method by Boyle, but one that works brilliantly and gives the two-hour movie a brisk pace that keeps the viewer at rapt attention throughout.
Another bold method of the director is the movie's look. The visual style is one of the best aspects of the film. It is bold and interesting, however, it never seems to be misplaced. Unlike many other movies that use stylized cinematography, it does not seem to be done simply as way to draw attention to itself, but in fact, is integral to the story. Other than the game-show center, the movie is the memory of the protagonist. Often what is remembered by the human mind is not the experience as it actually happened, but flashes and highlights of that experience. These flashes of memory may or may not be exactly what happened, but stick in the mind because of the hightened sensation from the actual experience. This is what the Danny Boyle's visual style brings to the story of the two youths and their girlfriend, as they steal, scam, and charm to survive in their downtrodden lives. It is a flash, a moment, a color, a smell, a sensation that brings to life the whole memory of Jamal's youth, and the cinematography and bold visual direction, make you feel as if you are inside Jamal's mind remembering the events as he remembers them, not as an outside observer watching the events as they unfolded in the past. This allows us, as the viewer, to be much more personally invested in the characters of the movie than we otherwise might.
Just like the way "City of God" (another excellent film) was able to show the beauty and life in some of the most dispicable conditions, in that case the slums of Rio de Genaro, "Slumdog Millionaire" does the same for the slums of India. One of the big differences is that "SM," despite several very dark scenes, is on the whole a much more optimistic movie than "COD." Although both are excellent, and if you haven't see "City of God" yet, read Brian's review from March 31st, 2006, as well as the accompaning comments. Then rent and watch the movie.
But back to "Slumdog Millionaire." Underneath the coming of age story, the game-show center, and the illustration of the vitality and beauty of India, "SM" is first and foremost a wonderful love story. Jamal is not on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" for the money, that is the least of his concerns. He is hoping against hope that the love of his life is somewhere out there watching and will recognize him and find him. "SM's" love story, despite having the main characther experience tragedy after tragedy, never succumbs to the negativity, and always remains hopeful. The 'love can conquor all' message has been a common theme for many movies, but what is so great about "SM" is that the message never feels hokey or overtly sentimental, but instead it makes you trully believe that love can indeed, conquor all. It is a wonderful movie on many levels, but the love story is the heart of the movie. Plus the tribute to Bollywood is great! You will bounce out of the theatre feeling hopeful, energized, and exhillerated.
If "Slumdog Millionaire" doesn't win the Oscar for best movie it will be a travesty.
4.5 out of 5 stars!
Danny Boyle's excellent "Slumdog Millionaire" tell the story of two young boys, Jamal and Salim Malik, and their female friend, Latika, as they grow up and find their own paths to survival and success from just about the worst of situations. In the process one boy attempts finds true and devoted love, while the other attemps to find his redemption. It is vibrant, exciting, scarry, fun, funny, and moving; in a word brilliant.
The movie is centered around Jamal Malik, now a young man, played by Dev Patel, who is having unexpected success on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" The game show itself, as well as his interrogation due to his success on the show, is the structural foundation, from which the rest of the story unfolds and is built upon. Each question leads to a different episode in the young man's life, and explains how he got to where he is at that day. These episodes lead chronologically up through time to the tension filled finale', where the biggest reward, or loss, may or may not be the million dollars. It is a bold method by Boyle, but one that works brilliantly and gives the two-hour movie a brisk pace that keeps the viewer at rapt attention throughout.
Another bold method of the director is the movie's look. The visual style is one of the best aspects of the film. It is bold and interesting, however, it never seems to be misplaced. Unlike many other movies that use stylized cinematography, it does not seem to be done simply as way to draw attention to itself, but in fact, is integral to the story. Other than the game-show center, the movie is the memory of the protagonist. Often what is remembered by the human mind is not the experience as it actually happened, but flashes and highlights of that experience. These flashes of memory may or may not be exactly what happened, but stick in the mind because of the hightened sensation from the actual experience. This is what the Danny Boyle's visual style brings to the story of the two youths and their girlfriend, as they steal, scam, and charm to survive in their downtrodden lives. It is a flash, a moment, a color, a smell, a sensation that brings to life the whole memory of Jamal's youth, and the cinematography and bold visual direction, make you feel as if you are inside Jamal's mind remembering the events as he remembers them, not as an outside observer watching the events as they unfolded in the past. This allows us, as the viewer, to be much more personally invested in the characters of the movie than we otherwise might.
Just like the way "City of God" (another excellent film) was able to show the beauty and life in some of the most dispicable conditions, in that case the slums of Rio de Genaro, "Slumdog Millionaire" does the same for the slums of India. One of the big differences is that "SM," despite several very dark scenes, is on the whole a much more optimistic movie than "COD." Although both are excellent, and if you haven't see "City of God" yet, read Brian's review from March 31st, 2006, as well as the accompaning comments. Then rent and watch the movie.
But back to "Slumdog Millionaire." Underneath the coming of age story, the game-show center, and the illustration of the vitality and beauty of India, "SM" is first and foremost a wonderful love story. Jamal is not on "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" for the money, that is the least of his concerns. He is hoping against hope that the love of his life is somewhere out there watching and will recognize him and find him. "SM's" love story, despite having the main characther experience tragedy after tragedy, never succumbs to the negativity, and always remains hopeful. The 'love can conquor all' message has been a common theme for many movies, but what is so great about "SM" is that the message never feels hokey or overtly sentimental, but instead it makes you trully believe that love can indeed, conquor all. It is a wonderful movie on many levels, but the love story is the heart of the movie. Plus the tribute to Bollywood is great! You will bounce out of the theatre feeling hopeful, energized, and exhillerated.
If "Slumdog Millionaire" doesn't win the Oscar for best movie it will be a travesty.
4.5 out of 5 stars!
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I'm sold. Netflix says that this disc (DVD and Blu-ray) won't be out until 3/31. D'oh.
ReplyDeleteYeah, its still in the first run theaters, so if you and Sara do go out to movies, this is one deffinately worth seeing on the big screen.
ReplyDeleteSM turned out to be a perfect Valentine's date movie. Sarah and I both enjoyed it. I'm trying to think of someone that wouldn't enjoy this movie.
ReplyDelete4 stars out of 5