Review of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) by Brian K — 13 Apr 2013

Nearly Perfect. A joyous and intriguing film that is completely, individually unique and aggressive in storytelling and narrative. This is a lock for Best Picture nomination, and may even win. This is a film, like Wall*E, that is for everyone. I can't imagine anyone not liking this film. It's fast paced and well edited, it's narrative is completely engrossing and it's characters are well developed and stimulating. One of the best opening sequences this year begins by asking us a question: "How did Jamal Malik win 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'? A - He cheated B - He knew the answers C - Some one told him D - It is written." The answer is given to us by the end. I won't give it away.

The story starts with Jamal(Dev Patel) in prison, being questioned about his appearance on the television program. He precedes to tell them how he knew the answers. Conveniently, he learned the answers in perfect sequence in comparison to his childhood and life story. As each question is asked, we see a glimpse of his past and the reason that he knows the answer. This kid has been through a lot. The movie is simultaneously exciting, disturbing, fun, action oriented, and light spirited. There are moments of pure joy at the prospect of Jamal finding happiness in simple things, and then there are moments of utter disgust, such as an "orphanage" Jamal is taken to.

Jamal's greatest necessity, however, is Latika(Freido Pinto), a girl that Jamal befriends as a child. They lose each other and Jamal spends the rest of his life trying to find her. Many times, their paths cross and Latika ensures him that they can never be together, but that doesn't stop Jamal from trying. The film revolves around trying to decipher what true wealth and riches are. A character like Salim(Madhur Mittal) finds nice cars and lots of money to be the only thing in the world that could provide happiness. He'd even go so far as to kill someone in order to get it. Latika believes that happiness is what you make of it. She sees things as black and white: There's no way that Jamal and she could be together, therefore they must try to find happiness apart. Jamal, of course, believes that true wealth and happiness is simplistic love, and he will do anything that it takes to make sure that Latika realizes that.

The movie was touching, but didn't shove sentimentality down the audience's throat. The emotion was real and motivational. The funny moments in Jamal's life, and the horrible moments in Jamal's life(and he has some really awful moments) lead up to a finale that could never state its meaning clearer: Never give up. It's a theme we've been missing in the movies lately. A lot of films get so drab and depressing, that it's great to see that this year, so many films have taken the opposite route. 'Milk' was always funny and inspirational, and this film as well. As much as I thought last year was one of the best years for movies that we've ever seen, it seems as though the filmmaking world decided that serial killer movies needed to be replaced with joyful films this year. I'm glad.

What makes this film great, more than anything else, is the utter likableness of the characters. Jamal goes through shit, yet is always bright and cheerful(though quite nervous; he reminds me a bit of David Archuletta). A great sequence to exemplify this: Jamal and his brother arrive at the Taj Mahal, not knowing what it is("Is this heaven"), and in an effort to make a quick buck, they take idiotic Americans on tours, improvising their own versions of how the palace was built and what happened there. They offer to take people's shoes as they enter the temple and steal them.

The movie also makes statements about "The real India." Every aspect of India we've known or heard about, and those we haven't, are shown to us here. Anthony Dod Mantle, our DP extraordinaire, carefully chose fantastic angles to enhance the feeling of each part of India we see. The shots of the poor India, where men pay a couple cents to shit into a hole, are filmed very classically, whereas the action oriented India, full of gangsters and thugs, becomes a flurry of diagonal shots. The love story is told through sweeping camera shots and bright, vibrant colors. We even get a musical number ala Bollywood. This part may be out of place, but it plays during the credits, so it's all good.

The writing is also magnificent. Simon Beaufoy taps into Vikas Swarup's novel and makes the story even better. Each piece of dialogue is driven and straight forward, particularly the dialogue between the brothers, and the dialogue between Jamal and the Host of the television show. Both these instances supply dialogue sufficiently foreboding of their dynamic relationships and the mess they get each other into.

But, let's not forget what makes a film: Direction! Direction! Direction! Danny Boyle(director of cult classic, 'Trainspotting' and recent masterpiece, 'Millions') will more than likely go home with the Oscar on his mantel. This man is brilliant. This film could have gone down the tubes instantly with the wrong person to piece it together, but Boyle is more than up to the job. His creative and artistic choices add to the dexterity of the film and of its integrity. What a man. What a film.

To conclude, 'Slumdog Millionaire' will most likely turn out to be one of the most talked about films of the year. It won the audience award at Toronto, I believe it was, and is the leading contender for Oscar Gold. It deserves it. I'd go see this movie again in a heartbeat. See it in the theater, there is no other way to see it. It is meticulously well put together and emotionally satisfying, as well as God-damned entertaining and beautifully shot. See it to look at it. See it to bask in it. See it to feel happy/sad/confused/shocked/humorous/joyful/inspired. See it, because if you don't, you'll be missing one of the best films in recent years.