As the Oscar winner for Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire is definitely one of the most original movies I have seen. While it may not consist of well-known actors cast as the leading roles, I feel that this movie still has a unique storyline, and is portrayed in a very captivating way.
Based on the book Q & A by Vikas Swarup and directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandon, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik, a Mumbai teen who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in order to find his lost childhood sweetheart. As Jamal advances his way through the questions, he is suspected of cheating. No one can believe that a young man who grew up in the slums knows the right answers. He is arrested and interrogated. During his interrogation, the movie reveals how events throughout Jamal’s life prove that he knows the correct answers.
I really enjoyed how the situations from Jamal’s past ended up relating to questions he was being asked on the game show. This really kept me interested throughout the whole movie. While flashbacks usually end up confusing me, these were done very well.
The only complaint I will make is relatively minor. While the movie was not anti-climatic in any sense, it seemed to drag a bit. At exactly 120 minutes, the beginning seemed a little sluggish, but it picked up soon after.
Overall, I think this movie was extremely fascinating and well-done; a different twist on the average “love story.” I would not recommend it for younger children, however. It has an R rating for violence and language, and I must admit that a couple of the scenes are pretty graphic.
Slumdog Millionaire is emotional and engaging, making it one of the most memorable movies. It is now available on DVD, so be sure to see it!
-Lindsay
Nice review Lindsay, I loved that movie! I'm not usually into love stories, but it was incredible.
ReplyDeleteI finally got to see Slumdog over the weekend, and found it to be very good! The element of modern fairytale set in the streets of ever-colorful, but impoverished area of Mumbai, India definitely grabbed a hold of my attention and held it, as I love all forms of fantasy in my films. It reminded me as well, of another film that I think I will recommend here, as it has been out there a while. It is called Born Into Brothels, and is a documentary produced by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman. Within the film we meet a group of children who live in Calcutta's red light district and have prostitutes and drug addicts as parents. The fimmakers give these children cameras and teach them photography to widen their limited horizons and show them a world beyond the slums where they live. It is a very hopeful film, despite its setting, due mostly to the children who are ever optimistic about their own future, and whose determination we can all admire and be inspired by. -Dani
ReplyDeleteBorn into brothels...that was on IFC like ten minutes ago. I should have checked back here earlier. :(
ReplyDeleteI thought this movie had a very interesting and unique storyline. I was very into the plot and would recommend it
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