Slumdog Millionaire
Golden Globe-winner Slumdog Millionaire gives you a-ride-and-a-half in exchange for two hours of your time.
If you’re like me, you haven't seen many trailers for this film, and probably just heard the hype and saw the posters. Thus the plotline appears to be that a kid from the streets is about to win the TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
In reality, the film is so much more than this, and that’s the joy. You don’t know too much, so you’re fresh to way Director Danny Boyle allows this film to pan out until the end.
You join Jamal (UK and Skins Dev Patel) in the hot seat of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and realise it’s a recorded show when you’re transported to the present. You watch Jamal being tortured in an Indian police station under the allegations he has cheated his way through the answers. Now at this point I feel obliged not to divulge too much information, as I very much enjoyed letting the story unfold (like in Big Fish, The Prestige, or an M. Night Shyamalan film). It is that moment of gasping, “Ah, I see!” in those films that gives you satisfaction.
I was quite tentative about seeing this film only because in my youth I was exposed to so many Bollywood films, of which I enjoyed none. I hated the repetitive story line, the three hour-minimum run time, and the constant breaking out into a song and dance regardless of the scene. Not for me!
However, of the many accomplishments of this film, the one I valued the most was how Boyle perfectly bridged the gap between Western filmmaking and Bollywood. Real effort, research, time and human emotion was spent on getting the small things right. I applaud Boyle’s daringness to confront the dark and painful corners of India, when for most it would have been easier to gloss over them.
A gripping screenplay, great performances, exceptional direction (given how removed this is from Boyles previous projects). And they save the singing and dancing until the credits. Perfect!
In reality, the film is so much more than this, and that’s the joy. You don’t know too much, so you’re fresh to way Director Danny Boyle allows this film to pan out until the end.
You join Jamal (UK and Skins Dev Patel) in the hot seat of the Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and realise it’s a recorded show when you’re transported to the present. You watch Jamal being tortured in an Indian police station under the allegations he has cheated his way through the answers. Now at this point I feel obliged not to divulge too much information, as I very much enjoyed letting the story unfold (like in Big Fish, The Prestige, or an M. Night Shyamalan film). It is that moment of gasping, “Ah, I see!” in those films that gives you satisfaction.
I was quite tentative about seeing this film only because in my youth I was exposed to so many Bollywood films, of which I enjoyed none. I hated the repetitive story line, the three hour-minimum run time, and the constant breaking out into a song and dance regardless of the scene. Not for me!
However, of the many accomplishments of this film, the one I valued the most was how Boyle perfectly bridged the gap between Western filmmaking and Bollywood. Real effort, research, time and human emotion was spent on getting the small things right. I applaud Boyle’s daringness to confront the dark and painful corners of India, when for most it would have been easier to gloss over them.
A gripping screenplay, great performances, exceptional direction (given how removed this is from Boyles previous projects). And they save the singing and dancing until the credits. Perfect!
Here Is The Writer : Omer Bhatti
Omer Bhatti, Head Sales Trader of WorldSpreads and markets commentator during the week, is always happy to go to a cushy cinema and devour films on the weekend. No film is ruled out, be it French film noir, Hollywood CGI action, or Japanese Manga. Look to Omer for input on where to go and what to see, whether it’s for a first date, family outing, Sunday recovery session, or guy's - or girl's - night out. (Just don't make him watch Sex & the City again.)
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