Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle is one of my personal favorite filmmakers around, in fact right below this review posting on the main page should be a feature appreciating him.
Visually, the guy is a really distinctive force. He has so much range of expression you can’t necessarily pick out a Danny Boyle film from a few frames (as you can with Tony or Ridley Scott), but that’s really an even bigger compliment of his creativity.
Sometimes Boyle succeeds with the visuals but doesn’t have the story to back it up (Sunshine).
That’s not the case with Slumdog Millionaire.
This story of an Indian kid from the slums winning big on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire is a glorious melodrama of the highest order.
It’s a classic love story really.
Jamal (played at his oldest by Dev Patel) grew up hustlin with his brother Salim (played at his oldest by Madhur Mittal), but Salim grew tired of powerlessness and intoxicated with strength upon the acquisition and use of a gun.
While Salim took the life of a gangster Jamal became a tea-server at a call center.
Both were romantically interested in Latika (played at her eldest by Freida Pinto), whom they also grew up with. But while Salim was always more self-centered and probably interested in Latika’s value as a pretty girl more than in any real love with her, Jamal was head over heels for Latika.
In the film’s biggest departure from melodramatic good vs evil, Salim ultimately has a deeper understanding of himself and the meaning of his many unethical actions than he lets on.
Boyle gives us a film of dazzling color, alive with the hustle and bustle of the streets, a fairy tale as much as it is an urban story.
All the actors acquit themselves quit well, Patel and Pinto have definite chemistry, and the insecure showboating host of Indian Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Anil Kapoor) is a ton of fun to watch.
Goofiest Part of It
The way Kappor says “Millionaire”, almost mispronouncing it, but with tremendous flair.
Second Goofiest Part of It
In a surprising gross-out gag, little Jamal dives through a pile of feces, and emerges to run towards an Indian celebrity for his autograph.
Who’s Surprisingly Sympathetic
Even though the police investigator (Irrfan Khan) has Jamal tortured and electrocuted, he seems pretty understanding once Jamal recounts his life story and ultimately becomes a somewhat sympathetic figure.
Who Will Cry
Your girlfriend/mom/sister/you.
One response to “Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle Succeeds with Visuals and Story”
Thanks for refreshing the thought of Little Jamal immersing himself in feces, I had almost rid it from my memory, lol.
I think what makes it a tear-jerker is that the plot is filled with sadness throughout and near the end you just don’t see any hope of things getting better, but then it ends good and you are like “Oh! Thank God!” cue: crying – tears of joy.
One of the most powerful, emotion-filled scenes was when Jamal kissed Latika’s scar; what a simple thing, but Boyle did a great job of amplifying it to the level it deserved.