There are many wonderful things about movies. One of them is that every so often one finds a director whose every film becomes a ‘must see’. Danny Boyle is becoming one of those directors. For me it began with 28 Days Later (and no, I haven’t seen his most lauded film, Trainspotting. I know…). Boyle took a zombie film and made it art. Each successive film has raised his estimation in my eyes: Millions, Sunshine, and now Slumdog Millionaire. I have enjoyed them all. Boyle has proven himself a director with the kind of varied interests that make his next moves impossible to predict. I like that.
The multiple-award-winning Slumdog Millionaire is a timely, feel good film that rises above its sentimentality to become something really special.
Slumdog Millionaire is the story of a poor young man who makes it on to India’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. When he rises above expectations, he is arrested and charged with cheating. This information is given to you, the viewer, as the film begins. What follows is a conversation with Jamal Malik, as he tells the story of his life by way of explanation of his not-so-trivial knowledge.
Slumdog Millionaire is many things. At its heart it is a love story, as many of the best films are. But it is also a look at the very hard past and present of a people that I admittedly know little about. I was raised in the heartland of America. I was fortunate in that I have never known poverty. I have never lived in a world where sanitation was an issue. I have never had to rise above truly impossible odds. I also have to admit that my knowledge of the history of non-Western cultures is somewhat lacking. I have never been a news junkie and my attraction to history is most often that of my own country and the country that we won our freedom from long, long ago. My knowledge of India? Not so good. As I watched Slumdog Millionaire, I learned something. I got glimpses of the history of a people that made me pause to remember that the world is still a dark and hopeless place for so many. And I was inspired to remember that even in the midst of despair, there is still hope.
Danny Boyle and the cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire remind us of this in a film with remarkable acting (especially from the child actors who portrayed the various main characters as children), incredibly varied and vibrant music, and a landscape that even in its poverty can be beautiful. The juxtaposition of bright, rich colors of clothes and other fabrics played out against the harsh rust and dirt of the slums gives the film an amazing visual texture. The storytelling method–small vignettes from various times in Jamal’s life interwoven with his present experience–keeps the story fresh and interesting and keeps your attention engaged. Dev Patal, as Jamal, is an actor whose very look has you rooting for him from the first frame of the film. Freida Pinto, as the adult version of Jamal’s great love, is both stunningly beautiful and remarkably talented in her first feature film role.
Hope is an important message in this time of world upheaval. Danny Boyle gives us a sentimental film with layers of harsh reality that reminds us that the one thing we all have in times of hopelessness is love. That love can inspire us, unite us, and give us true riches no matter where we are in life. And the greatest thing about it is that we can give it away, freely, to everyone we meet.
Slumdog Millionaire is a winner. 5/5 stars.
____________________________
Slumdog Millionaire won 4 Golden Globes: Best Original Score, Best Screenplay, Best Picture (Drama) and Best Director. It is nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
It is refreshing to see that every once in awhile the critics and the judges get it right!
I’m dying to see this one. Like you, I’ve been a huge fan of Boyle ever since 28 Days Later. Millions has become one of my favorite movies as well and Sunshine was just incredible. I saw Trainspotting when it first came out, and it’s a great movie, but certainly my least favorite of his films. It has a different feel from most of his movies. I really hope this one does well at the Oscars!
I just got back from seeing this one. I loved it also, and my husband was reluctant at first but he loved it too. I think it just managed to balance many things really well. There were harsh realities that the boys had to face, but there was humor too. And the contrast between the two brothers as they got older… very well done.
I’m glad to see you made it to the theatre to see this movie. I thought it looked wonderful from the trailers and I’m glad to see you give it such a glowing review. I will defiently catch it when it comes out on DVD. As for Danny Boyle’s previous films. I saw Trainspotting many years ago and just thought it was ok but I really enjoyed 28 days and Sunshine a lot.
My brother said this was the best movie he saw last year. I can not wait to see it!! Trainspotting. Man…it’s been years since I’ve seen it. It was good…but 28 Days Later was better. (and I hate to admit it, but I haven’t seen Sunshine!)
I’m glad you liked this one!
I’m so excited aboout seeing this film this week. I love Danny Boyle, and this film looks beautiful! Great review, thanks!
when everyone else goes for using “the big star” or “big special effects” a surprise “sentimental” movie can go a lot farther than expected! It’s not at our theater just yet, so I went to see a non-award movie: Inkheart!
Boyle has really done a good job with this movie. While the movie deals with the gory details of the underbelly of Mumbai, it doesnt really leave you with a sick feeling. The story feels like a commentary and at the end you just feel good about the whole movie. Very well done I must say.
The music score by Rehman is amazing, the actors who played junior Jamal and Salim were the real stars. They were simply too good.
I thought Freida was overhyped. She had just 15 mins of screen presence.
I haven’t seen this as yet, but I’m looking forward to it. The book that this story was based on was interesting so I’m looking forward to seeing how Danny Boyle pulls it off!
I actually watched the Gold Globes with the trailer and all the awards it won. I think I must waytch it or die. I usually try to avoid movies that haven’t been shot in the USA, because I am not accustomed to different schools in cinematography and have been left unsatisfied, but this sounds nice enough.
It truly is a wonderful movie. The actors, the script, the cinematography were all great!
Sheesh…it’s obvious from your post and the comments and the awards this movie has won that I ought to have heard of it, huh? Get out of the cave, Debi. Get out of the cave. Well, at least you now really made me want to see it. 🙂
Debi: It only went into wide release this past weekend, so don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of it. I wouldn’t have initially except I get a weekly email of the shows in the independent theatres here in town. It is a really good one though, you would enjoy it.
Mary: It was, wasn’t it?
Harry: This one is really satisfying. More often than not I find foreign films to be more satisfying that American ones, at least the ratio of foreign films that I see and like far outranks the American ones that I see and like.
Michelle: I was wondering about the book but hadn’t heard of anyone that read it. I suspect that my wife will read it at some point.
Mumbai: You are right, it doesn’t leave you with a bad feeling at all, it is a really uplifting film despite showing some harsh realities. And the child actors are indeed fantastic. I didn’t know anything about Freida before this film so there was no hype for me. I thought she was beautiful and was impressed that she did so well for a first role.
Deslily: I’m glad you got out to see Inkheart. I need to pop over to your site and read your review.
Mariel: Let me know what you think when you see it.
Stephanie: I was very impressed with Sunshine but it seems to be a movie that there are different schools of thought on. I think it is worth seeing and that it was very good. And your brother is probably right. It will certainly be high on my list this year and will be interesting to see if anything tops it.
Jeff: the thing with Trainspotting is that the subject matter never appealed to me and probably never will, so I cannot imagine I’ll go out of my way to see it.
Kim: I’m glad you both enjoyed it. I love it when films like this surprise even those who are reluctant to see them.
Chris: You’ll love this one! Millions is great, isn’t it? The end of that film is one of my favorite endings.
Totally agree Carl. Went to see this the week before last and its just so heart-warming, but without being over the top and schmaltzy. Plus the music was fab
I loved it! It kept my interest, loved the way it went back and forth, the contrast between rich and poor. If I still had teenagers, I would want them to see it, just so they would get a realty check of what is beyond our borders.
I do like happy endings.
Fence: You are right, it isn’t over the top at all. They kept a really nice balance with all of that. And the music was terrific. Not generally what I listen to and yet I really enjoyed it.
Cynthia: I want my daughter to see this. Unfortunately for her she was off doing something when we decided to see it, but I imagine she’ll see it when it comes out on dvd. It is good to see images of the way things are/can be outside of America.
And I like happy endings as well. Much prefer them to all other kinds of endings.
I saw Slumdog Millionaire during my Christmas vacation and I’m still thinking and talking about it with friends. I’ve never paid any attention to Danny Boyle before. I saw Trainspotting but not any of the others. More movies for my Netflix queue.
Since Christmas I’ve seen several other great movies. The Wrestler, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Grand Turino and Doubt. You should check them out. All were intense.
By the way Carl, I’ve been waiting for you to review Have Space Suit-Will Travel. Have I missed it?
Jim: You should definitely check out all three other Boyle movies I mentioned: 28 Days Later, Millions, and Sunshine.
I want to see both The Wrestler and Benjamin Button and really wish things would line up so that I could get to the theater to see them.
You have not missed Have Space Suit. I got a bit sidetracked by Niven. Fear not, Have Space Suit will be reviewed soon!!!
I knew this movie had been nominated. I had never heard of it or any of the others mentioned. I wasn’t interested because I assumed it was dark and serious and sad – things I want nothing to do with right now. Life is too difficult right now to take more of that in! I am pleased that there might be a decent feel good movie to see!
I watched Slumdog Millionaire last weekend and I enjoyed myself. But there is still this sense of tragedy in the film, especially what happened to Salim at the end.
Ironically, Danny Boyle’s “Trainspotting” is one of my favourite movies pf all times! 🙂
This is such a brilliant film. One of the best I’ve seen in ages ;0)
I just put up a mini review of this today. I loved this film and highly recommend tit to anyone who has not yet seen it. I wouldn’t say i was feel-good, but it has it’s heart warming moments amid the brutal aspects. It’s great to see Dev Patel in a role outside of Skins (UK drama series).
This movie was so good! I’d just finished watching season two of Skins and was thrilled to see Anwar (Dev Patel) in this movie.
You must watch Trainspotting. It was very good, but I don’t think I could ever watch it a second time. Once will do it.
If I can get a babysitter this week, then this is the film my husband and I plan to see. I got to see Coraline, which was so beautifully done, just this past Saturday!
For me “This is not a ‘feel-good’ movie!” it is devastating sad to see what happens to the three central characters in their childhood.
However there is a very happy ending. Love triumphs, this is a must see movie!
This is my favorite movie of the year so far. I loved it and having been to Honduras working in these environments – I have seen it. They were right on. FABULOUS MOVIE!
Excellent review