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'Slumdog Millionaire': Likely Oscar Contender
November 28, 2008 9:32 AM
The rags-to-riches story that has come to typify many classic films is nothing new. What makes "Slumdog Millionaire" unique, however, are its explosive colors, believably gripping storyline and cinematography so vivid that one could watch the film in complete silence and still understand the magnitude of what is unfolding, frame by frame. The protagonist, Jev Patel, played by Jamal Malik, is an impoverished child living in Mumbai. When tragedy suddenly strikes, his older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) is forced to take on the parenting role, leading the boys through many schematic adventures of petty crimes in the hopes of earning money and eventually getting out of the slums.
The poignancy of undeniable squalor is highlighted throughout the movie, with shots of mothers washing clothes in murky outdoor communal baths to children sleeping under a makeshift tent in the middle of a wasteland. Dreams are few and far between in this kind of world. But somehow, Jamal gets his big shot to get out of poverty when he lands a role on the hit show "Kaun Banega Crorepati," the Hindi version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Through his haunting life experiences, Jamal is able to draw from his memory the answer to each question correctly on the show, much to the audience's disbelief. An illiterate, uneducated slum kid defies all odds, and goes against everything that is scripted. As a nonchalant game contestant in what seems like a live sportscast, Jamal competes by using his exposure to poverty and child exploitation, the inevitability of crime that comes along with living in such conditions, and an India on the verge of the 21st century. Perhaps what is most shocking to the game show host (Anil Kapoor) and police officer (Irfan Khan), who will later interrogate Jamal for cheating, is why a street kid is able to get the most answers right in the show’s history, and not seem to care about the large reward money that is involved.
But Jamal is seeking the million-dollar prize on the show not to get out of poverty, but rather for love. Latika, played by the gorgeous Freida Pinto, is the object of Jamal's affection, from boyhood to early manhood. She is, it seems--his sole motivation for living, much to his brother Salim’s dismay. This modern day fairy tale of the pauper seeking princedom in the eyes of his love, unfolds at a systematic pace. Even near the end of the film, there is no certainty of the game’s outcome, only that Jamal is deserving of the only thing he has ever truly desired throughout his tumultuous life, Latika.
Slumdog Millionaire is an extraordinary film, that is sure to fare well as an Oscar contender. Like Fernando Mereilles’ City of God, Slumdog somehow manages to delicately suggest a certain beauty in a poverty-stricken life. In what could have easily been a contrived story, we are instead left with the pulsating realization of life’s unapologetic manner, as well as the addictive power of love---even when the lights are on, the questions seem impossible, and there is no guarantee of a winner.
Kristin Braswell
November 28, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)
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Wow! This is definitely a new concept for a movie. It sounds like there are some surprising twists in the plot. I'm glad to see there might actually be something interesting to see instead of seeing ridiculously popular movies like Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Posted by: Riley | Nov 28, 2008 10:45:03 AM
This movie sounds very inspiring...I enjoy films that surround characters with unexpected heroism. And what's a complete story without love add to it, I will definitely see this movie.
Posted by: Vanessa | Nov 28, 2008 11:26:22 AM
I saw this movie a few days ago - AMAZING. GRIPPING. INCREDIBLE! One of the best movies I have seen in the last few years, even during the credits the movie was entertaining! The entire theater was full when the last credit rolled.
Posted by: Dan-Knopfl | Nov 28, 2008 12:17:41 PM
I will seek the film on DVD but I have to say that "Mantyhose" is wrong.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Nov 28, 2008 12:43:12 PM
.....the hit show "Kaun Banega Crorepati," the Hindu version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
Please correct this error its not HINDU version but a INDIAN/HINDI version. Hindu is a religion while Hindi is a language. Hope to see the movie soon.
Posted by: vineet | Nov 28, 2008 1:47:13 PM
.....the hit show "Kaun Banega Crorepati," the Hindu version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
Please correct this error its not HINDU version but a INDIAN/HINDI version. Hindu is a religion while Hindi is a language. Hope to see the movie soon.
Posted by: vineet | Nov 28, 2008 1:51:47 PM
There should be a correction. "Hindu version" - a person is Hindu, not a gameshow. It should be either "Indian" or "Hindi" version. Hindi is the language.
Posted by: jjo118 | Nov 28, 2008 2:28:19 PM
This movie is another good example of what is wrong with hollywood. We need more movies that are quality story telling or based upon moral values.
Posted by: James | Nov 28, 2008 7:46:32 PM
Are you people high? It says "Hindi"
Posted by: Scott | Nov 29, 2008 1:30:23 AM
Scott - I'm guessing that probably the line was changed without the proper journalistic acknowledgement that normally accompanies such an edit. Frankly, I'm more bothered by the line, "a street kid is able to get the most answer’s right in the show’s history," since someone CLEARLY didn't learn as the rest of us did in the second grade that a plural word like "answers" doesn't require an apostrophe. Come ON, Kristin Braswell. You want to be a real writer - get the basics down.
And on another point - James - you've clearly never seen the movie. YOU may need something you're not getting, but this movie says a great deal about good values. Get off your high horse and make your own movie.
Posted by: Rick Allen | Nov 30, 2008 6:10:24 PM
James - you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. God himself could make a movie and someone like you would complain. What's wrong with Hollywood is too many people like you complaining without doing something yourself.
Posted by: Gina D. | Nov 30, 2008 6:12:00 PM
What a great movie.This review is so well written!It truly captures and embodies the fullness and beauty of this film.
Posted by: diane | Dec 1, 2008 12:17:39 AM
The movie is terrific - saw it last night. Correction to the article, which states "The protagonist, Jev Patel, played by Jamal Malik.." You got it backwards. The protagonist is Jamal, played by the actor Jev Patel.
Posted by: Catherine Cumming | Dec 22, 2008 10:49:55 AM
saw it today, its reality, it happens in every place, which we feel is difficult to accept as we want to claim we are civilized and shed away from it. explicit work
Posted by: boltun | Dec 30, 2008 9:39:12 AM
Freida Pinto was Haawwttttt!
Posted by: ron tungol | Jan 12, 2009 2:04:47 PM
"The protagonist, Jev Patel, played by Jamal Malik, is an impoverished child living in Mumbai."
Correction please, it has to be--
" The Protagonist, Jamal Malik, played by Dev Patel"
Posted by: Kavitha | Jan 16, 2009 12:25:01 PM
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